Patent Description:
A display device such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), a light emitting diode (LED) display, etc. includes a display panel including a plurality of pixels that can display an image. Each pixel may include a pixel electrode for receiving a data signal, and the pixel electrode may be connected to at least one transistor to receive the data signal.

Meanwhile, by reducing a bezel area of the display device, it is possible to increase a screen-to-body ratio of the display device, that is, a ratio of the screen to the display device, when viewed from a front thereof. The screen-to-body ratio represents a technical advancement of the display device, and at the same time, it is important to a consumer when selecting a product.

<CIT> discloses a display device with an increased screen-to-body ratio. The features known from this document have been summarized in the preamble of claim <NUM>.

<CIT> discloses a display device and a method of manufacturing the same, wherein circuit dummy pads and/or circuit signal pads disposed on a circuit film are electrically connected to substrate dummy pads respectively to substrate signal pads via an anisotropic conductive film.

Embodiments provide a display device that may have an enlarged area occupied by a display area by disposing a flexible film that transmits a driving signal required for operation of the display device on a side surface of the display panel. In addition, the embodiments provide a flexible film that is stably bonded to improve reliability of the display device.

An embodiment of the present invention provides a display device including: a display panel including a display area and at least a flexible film attached to a first side surface of the display panel, wherein a normal vector of the first side surface is orientated in a second direction, and wherein the display panel may include a signal line extending from the display area, and includes a substrate and at least a signal pad disposed on the substrate, wherein a portion of the at least one signal pad faces towards the same direction as the first side surface and that may be connected to the signal line. The display panel of the embodiment includes at least a dummy pad disposed adjacent to the signal pad in a first direction on the substrate, wherein the first direction is orthogonal to the second direction, that is the at least one first signal pad and the at least one dummy pad are positioned one behind another along the first side surface of the display panel. The flexible film includes a base film disposed to face the first side surface, and a driving electrode disposed between the base film and the signal pad, and, as seen in the second direction, overlapping the portion of the at least one signal pad and being electrically connected to the at least one signal pad. The display panel further comprises an encapsulation substrate spaced apart from the substrate in a third direction, wherein the third direction is orthogonal to the first direction and second direction, wherein the at least one signal pad and the at least one dummy pad are disposed between the substrate and the encapsulation substrate on a surface of the substrate whose normal vector is oriented in the third direction. The dummy pad does not overlap an electrode.

The display panel may be partially or fully flat on a front surface thereof. The flat surface may be connected directly to the first side surface, that is, the flat surface may be bounded by the first side surface. According to an embodiment comprises the display panel four side surfaces along its circumference, and the flat surface may be directly connected to all side surfaces without any rounded portion therebetween. The display panel may include a peripheral area disposed outside of the display area. The peripheral area may be part of the flat surface. According to an alternative embodiment, the peripheral surface is part of the side surface of the display panel and the display area reaches up to the connecting edge with the side surface.

Side surfaces of the signal pad and the dummy pad may be arranged along the first side of the display panel.

The display area may include a gate line and a data line that are insulated from each other and cross each other, and the signal pad and the dummy pad may respectively include the same material as that of the gate line and the data line.

The flexible film may further include an anisotropic conductive layer (or film) disposed between the base film and the driving electrode.

The anisotropic conductive layer may include an adhesive layer and conductive particles.

The display device may include a plurality of flexible films, and one of the plurality of flexible films may include a plurality of driving electrodes.

The dummy pad may be disposed between a plurality of signal pads, and one flexible film may overlap at least one dummy pad.

The dummy pad overlapping the one flexible film may overlap the outermost side of the one flexible film. The outermost side may be a boundary area of the flexible film disposed along the first side surface.

The display device may include the plurality of flexible films, at least one of the plurality of flexible films may overlap the dummy pad, and at least one of the plurality of flexible films may not overlap the dummy pad.

The flexible film may include a plurality of drive electrodes, and the plurality of driving electrodes may include a first driving electrode and a second driving electrode that have different widths.

A width of the first driving electrode may be greater than that of the second driving electrode, and the first driving electrode may be disposed at the outermost side of the plurality of driving electrodes.

A width of the first driving electrode may be greater than that of the second driving electrode, and at least one of the plurality of flexible films may overlap at least two of the first driving electrodes.

A method for manufacturing a display device comprises the following steps: preparing of the dummy pad and a plurality of signal pads disposed on the substrate on the surface of the substrate whose normal vector is oriented in the third direction, wherein the dummy pad and the plurality of signal pads are arranged along the first direction; coating a metal material on the first side surface of the display panel electrically connecting at least the plurality of signal pads to the metal material; eliminating the metal material along the first direction by using a laser process so as to expose the dummy pad; and pattern of the remaining metal material by using the dummy pad as a reference point to manufacture a plurality of driving electrodes.

According to the embodiments, it is possible to enlarge an area occupied by a display area by disposing a flexible film that transmits a driving signal required for operation of the display device on a side surface of the display panel. In addition, according to the embodiments, it is possible to improve reliability of a display device by providing a stably bonded flexible film.

The present invention will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which embodiments of the invention are shown. As those skilled in the art would realize, the described embodiments may be modified in various different ways, all without departing from the scope of the present claims.

To clearly describe the present disclosure, portions which do not relate to the description are omitted, and like reference numerals designate like elements throughout the specification.

Further, in the drawings, the size and thickness of each element are arbitrarily illustrated for ease of description, and the present disclosure is not necessarily limited to those illustrated in the drawings. In the drawings, the thicknesses of layers, films, panels, regions, etc., are exaggerated for clarity. In the drawings, for ease of description, the thicknesses of some layers and areas are exaggerated.

It will be understood that when an element such as a layer, film, region, or substrate is referred to as being "on" another element, it can be directly on the other element or intervening elements may also be present. Further, in the specification, the word "on" or "above" means disposed on or below the object portion, and does not necessarily mean disposed on the upper side of the object portion based on a gravitational direction.

Further, throughout the specification, the phrase "in a plan view" means viewing a target portion from the top, and the phrase "in a cross-sectional view" means viewing a cross-section formed by vertically cutting a target portion from the side.

Hereinafter, a display device according to an embodiment will be described with reference to <FIG> illustrates a schematic perspective view of a display panel according to an embodiment.

First, referring to <FIG>, a display device <NUM> according to an embodiment includes a display panel <NUM> displaying an image through a first planar surface US, and a plurality of flexible films <NUM> attached to side surfaces S1 and S2 of the display panel <NUM>. In the present specification, the flexible films <NUM> attached to the first side surface S1 and the second side surface S2 of the display panel <NUM> are illustrated, but are not limited thereto.

The display panel <NUM> may be, for example, an organic light emitting display panel, a liquid crystal display panel, a plasma display panel, an electrophoretic display panel, a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) display panel, or an electrowetting display panel. In the present specification, an embodiment in which the display panel <NUM> is an organic light emitting display panel is described, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

The display panel <NUM> includes a display area DA displaying an image through the first planar surface US, and a peripheral area NA disposed outside the display area DA when viewed in a plan view. The peripheral area NA may be formed at an edge portion of the display panel <NUM>, and it may surround the display area DA, but is not limited thereto.

The flexible film <NUM> may be connected to a printed circuit board <NUM>. The printed circuit board <NUM> may supply an image data signal and/or a data control signal to a driving chip <NUM> included in the flexible film <NUM>. Also, the printed circuit board <NUM> may supply a gate control signal to the driving chip <NUM> included in the flexible film <NUM>.

Hereinafter, the display panel <NUM> according to the embodiment will be described in more detail with reference to <FIG> illustrates a schematic top plan view of a display panel according to an embodiment. In this case, one flexible film corresponding to a plurality of pads is illustrated in a planar form for convenience.

As described above, the display panel <NUM> includes the display area DA and the peripheral area NA. The display area DA is provided with a plurality of pixels PX. The plurality of pixels PX may be arranged in a matrix form in the display area DA. In <FIG>, only one pixel is shown for better comprehension and ease of description.

The display panel <NUM> includes a plurality of signal lines <NUM> and <NUM>, a plurality of pixels PX connected to the plurality of signal lines <NUM> and <NUM>, and a plurality of signal pads SL-P electrically connected to the plurality of signal lines <NUM> and <NUM>.

The plurality of signal lines <NUM> and <NUM> include a gate line <NUM> extending along a first direction D1 and a data line <NUM> that is insulated from and crosses the gate line <NUM>. Each of the gate line <NUM> and the data line <NUM> may be connected to the pixel PX.

A gate driving circuit <NUM> to which the plurality of gate lines <NUM> are connected may be disposed in the peripheral area NA. A control signal line CSL may be connected to the gate driving circuit <NUM> to provide a control signal to the gate driving circuit <NUM>.

The display panel <NUM> may include the signal lines CSL and <NUM>, particularly, the control signal line CSL and the plurality of signal pads SL-P electrically connected to the data line <NUM>. In the embodiments, the plurality of signal pads SL-P may be arranged on the first side surface S1 of the display panel <NUM>. In the present specification, for the sake of convenience, only an embodiment in which the plurality of signal pads SL-P are disposed on the first side surface S1 is illustrated, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and as shown in <FIG>, the plurality of signal pads SL-P may be disposed on the side surface S2. Constituent elements on the first side surface S1 described below may be applied in the same form on the second side surface S2.

In addition, the display device according to the embodiment includes a dummy pad DP arranged in parallel to the signal pad SL-P. The signal pad SL-P and the dummy pad DP are arranged side by side along the first direction D1. The signal pad SL-P and the dummy pad DP are disposed on the first side surface S1 along the first direction D1.

In the present specification, a pad is a term including the signal pad SL-P and the dummy pad DP, and a signal line is a term including the gate line <NUM>, the data line <NUM>, and the control signal line CSL.

In the present specification, the structure in which three pads SL-P and DP correspond to one flexible film <NUM> is illustrated and described, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and one flexible film <NUM> may overlap at least two or more pads.

Hereinafter, one pixel PX included in the display area DA according to an embodiment will be schematically described with reference to <FIG> illustrates a circuit diagram of one pixel according to an embodiment.

Referring to <FIG>, the pixel PX may refer to a region partitioned by a plurality of signal lines <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, and refers to a minimum unit for displaying an image. The display device displays an image using a plurality of pixels.

The signal lines include a plurality of gate lines <NUM> for transmitting a gate signal (or a scan signal), a plurality of data lines <NUM> for transmitting a data signal, and a plurality of driving voltage lines <NUM> for transmitting a driving voltage ELVDD. Both the gate line <NUM> and the data line <NUM> will be referred to as a data conductor, and the driving voltage line <NUM> will be referred to as a gate conductor.

The gate lines <NUM> extend in a substantially row direction and are substantially parallel to each other, and vertical portions of the data lines <NUM> and the driving voltage lines <NUM> extend in a substantially column direction and are substantially parallel to each other.

Each pixel PX includes a switching thin film transistor T1, a driving thin film transistor T2, a storage capacitor Cst, and a light emitting diode (LED). Although not shown in the drawings, one pixel PX may further include an additional transistor and an additional capacitor to compensate a current provided to the light emitting diode.

The switching transistor T1 transmits a data signal applied to the data line <NUM> to the driving transistor T2 in response to a scan signal applied to the gate line <NUM>. The driving transistor T2 transmits an output current Id whose magnitude varies according to a voltage applied between a control terminal and an output terminal thereof. The storage capacitor Cst charges the data signal applied to the control terminal of the driving transistor T2 and maintains the data signal even after the switching transistor T1 is turned off.

The light emitting diode LED is provided with an anode connected to the output terminal of the driving transistor T2 and a cathode connected to a common voltage ELVSS. The light emitting diode LED displays an image by emitting light with variable intensity according to the output current of the driving transistor T2.

Hereinafter, a stacked structure of one pixel according to the embodiment described with reference to <FIG> will be described with reference to <FIG> illustrates a partial cross-sectional view of a display device according to an embodiment.

According to the embodiment, a circuit portion <NUM> disposed on a substrate <NUM> includes a buffer layer <NUM>. The buffer layer <NUM> may include an inorganic insulating material such as a silicon oxide, a silicon nitride, or an aluminum oxide, or may include an organic insulating material such as a polyimide acryl. In some embodiments, the buffer layer <NUM> may be omitted. The buffer layer <NUM> may flatten one surface of the substrate <NUM> or may prevent moisture, impurities, and the like from flowing into a light emitting layer <NUM>.

A semiconductor layer <NUM> is disposed on the buffer layer <NUM>. The semiconductor layer <NUM> may include an amorphous semiconductor, a polycrystalline semiconductor, or an oxide semiconductor.

The semiconductor layer <NUM> may include a source region <NUM> connected to a source electrode <NUM>, a drain region <NUM> connected to a drain electrode <NUM>, and a channel region <NUM> disposed between the source region <NUM> and the drain region <NUM>.

A gate insulating film <NUM> is disposed on the semiconductor layer <NUM> and the buffer layer <NUM> where it is not covered with the semiconductor layer <NUM>. The gate insulating film <NUM> may include an inorganic material, such as a silicon nitride or a silicon oxide, or may include an organic insulating material. Here, the silicon nitride may include, for example, SiNx or SiON, and the silicon oxide may include, for example, SiOx.

A gate electrode <NUM> may be disposed on the gate insulating film <NUM>. The gate electrode <NUM> may overlap the channel region <NUM> of the semiconductor layer <NUM>.

An interlayer insulating film <NUM> covering the gate electrode <NUM> and the exposed gate insulating film <NUM> is disposed thereon. The interlayer insulating film <NUM> may include an inorganic insulating material or an organic insulating material.

The source electrode <NUM> and the drain electrode <NUM> may be disposed on the interlayer insulating film <NUM>. Each of the source electrode <NUM> and the drain electrode <NUM> is connected to the source region <NUM> and the drain region <NUM> of the semiconductor layer <NUM> through contact holes of the interlayer insulating film <NUM> and the gate insulating film <NUM>.

A planarization insulating film <NUM> may be disposed on the source electrode <NUM>, the drain electrode <NUM>, and the interlayer insulating film <NUM> exposed therefrom. The planarization insulating film <NUM> may include an inorganic insulating material or an organic insulating material.

A pixel electrode <NUM>, which is a first electrode, is disposed on the planarization insulating film <NUM>. The pixel electrode <NUM> may be connected to the drain electrode <NUM> through a contact hole of the planarization insulating film <NUM>.

A partition wall <NUM> may be disposed on the pixel electrode <NUM> and the planarization insulating film <NUM>. The partition wall <NUM> may overlap at least a portion of the pixel electrode <NUM>. The partition wall <NUM> has an opening <NUM> overlapping the pixel electrode <NUM>. A light emitting layer <NUM> is disposed in the opening <NUM>. A common electrode <NUM> is disposed on the light emitting layer <NUM> and the partition wall <NUM>. An encapsulation substrate <NUM> is disposed on the common electrode <NUM>. The encapsulation substrate <NUM> may have a structure in which an organic film and an inorganic film are alternately stacked, or may have a structure such as the substrate <NUM>, but is not limited thereto. The pixel electrode <NUM>, the light emitting layer <NUM>, and the common electrode <NUM> form a light emitting diode.

In some embodiments, the pixel electrode may be an anode which is a hole injection electrode, and the common electrode may be a cathode which is an electron injection electrode. In contrast, the pixel electrode may be a cathode, and the common electrode may be an anode. When holes and electrons are injected into the light emitting layer from the pixel electrode and the common electrode, respectively, light is emitted when excitons in which the injected holes and electrons are combined enter a ground state from an excited state.

Hereinafter, the first side surface S1 to which the flexible film <NUM> and the display panel <NUM> are coupled according to an embodiment will be described with reference to <FIG> illustrates a partial cross-sectional view of a display device in a first side surface according to an embodiment.

The display device according to the embodiment includes the flexible film <NUM> coupled to the first side surface S1 of the display panel <NUM>.

The display panel <NUM> includes the substrate <NUM> described above, the encapsulation substrate <NUM> facing the substrate <NUM>, an adhesive member S connecting the substrate <NUM> and the encapsulation substrate <NUM>, and the signal pad SL-P connected to a signal line SL. According to the embodiment, spacers CS1 and CS2 may be disposed between the signal pad SL-P and the encapsulation substrate <NUM> to maintain a distance therebetween. The spacers CS1 and CS2 may include at least one layer, and may include two spacers CS1 and CS2, which are divided into two according to embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment.

The signal pad SL-P may be formed as a double layer according to an embodiment, but is not limited thereto. A first layer SL-P1 may include the same material as the above-described gate line, and a second layer SL-P2 may include the same material as the above-described data line. At least one of the first layer SL-P1 and the second layer SL-P2 may be omitted.

The adhesive member S may be disposed between the substrate <NUM> and the encapsulation substrate <NUM>, and may be disposed along an edge of the substrate <NUM>. The adhesive member S may include, for example, a sealing material.

The flexible film <NUM> according to the embodiment includes a base film <NUM> facing the first side surface S1 of the display panel <NUM>, a driving electrode <NUM> electrically connected to the signal pad SL-P, and an anisotropic conductive layer <NUM> disposed between the base film <NUM> and the driving electrode <NUM>. Although not shown in <FIG>, the flexible film <NUM> may further include a driving chip electrically connected to the printed circuit board as shown in <FIG>.

The base film <NUM> may be a flexible film, and may include any material.

The driving electrode <NUM> may be made of a metal material including copper (Cu), silver (Ag), gold (Au), or aluminum (Al). The driving electrode <NUM> may be formed through a laser patterning process after depositing a metal material according to an embodiment.

A number of driving electrodes <NUM> included in one flexible film <NUM> may be the same as that of signal pads SL-P overlapping one flexible film <NUM>. The driving electrode <NUM> transmits the driving signal transmitted from the driving chip <NUM> shown in <FIG> to the signal pad SL-P. In addition, the driving electrode <NUM> may transmit a signal to the signal pad SL-P through the anisotropic conductive layer <NUM>.

The anisotropic conductive layer <NUM> includes an adhesive layer <NUM> having adhesiveness and conductive particles <NUM> dispersed in the adhesive layer <NUM>. The conductive particles <NUM> are positioned between a side surface of the driving electrode <NUM> and a side surface of the base film <NUM>, and may electrically connect them.

As described above, by using the signal pad SL-P arranged on the first side surface S1 of the display panel <NUM> and the flexible film <NUM> connected to the signal pad SL-P, an area occupied by the peripheral area NA in the display panel <NUM> may be reduced compared to a method in which the signal pad and the flexible film overlap and are bonded to each other on one surface of the substrate <NUM>.

Hereinafter, the first side surface of the display panel according to the embodiment will be described in detail with reference to <FIG>. <FIG> illustrates a cross-sectional view of some of constituent elements in a first side surface according to an embodiment, and <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG> illustrate cross-sectional views of a first side during a manufacturing process according to an embodiment. For convenience, a structure in which the driving electrode is disposed on the first side surface of the display panel is illustrated.

First, referring to <FIG>, the plurality of signal pads SL-P and the dummy pad DP are arranged along the first side surface S1 of the display panel <NUM>. The plurality of signal pads SL-P and the dummy pad DP are arranged along the first direction D1, that is the plurality of signal pads SL-P and the dummy pad DP may be positioned one behind another in the first direction D1.

In this case, the dummy pad DP may be disposed at the outermost side of the display panel <NUM> in the first direction D1. According to the embodiment, the structure in which the dummy pad DP is disposed at the rightmost side is illustrated, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and the dummy pad DP may be disposed at the leftmost side.

Distances d1 between the plurality of adjacent signal pads SL-P and the dummy pad DP may be substantially the same. In addition, distances d2 of each signal pad SL-P and the dummy pad DP may be substantially the same.

The driving electrode <NUM> according to the embodiment may overlap the signal pad SL-P. The dummy pad DP does not overlap and is spaced apart from the driving electrode <NUM>.

A manufacturing method according to an embodiment will be briefly described with reference to <FIG>.

First, as shown in <FIG>, the dummy pad DP and the plurality of signal pads SL-P disposed between the substrate <NUM> and the encapsulation substrate <NUM> and arranged along the first direction D1 are prepared. The dummy pad DP and the plurality of signal pads SL-P are arranged along the first side surface S1. In this case, a width of the dummy pad DP and respective widths of the plurality of signal pads SL-P may be the same, and distances between the dummy pad DP and the plurality of signal pads SL-P adjacent to each other may be the same.

Next, as shown in <FIG>, a metal material <NUM> is coated on the first side surface S1 of the display panel <NUM>. The metal material <NUM> may be made of a metal material including copper (Cu), silver (Ag), gold (Au), or aluminum (Al).

Then, as shown in <FIG>, the metal material <NUM> is eliminated along the first direction D1 by using a laser process. When the dummy pad DP is exposed during the eliminating process, the metal material <NUM> may be patterned based on the dummy pad DP. Since the dummy pad DP and the plurality of signal pads SL-P have the same distance and width, when the dummy pad DP is exposed, the dummy pad DP is used as a reference point such as an alignment mark to pattern the metal material <NUM>, thereby manufacturing the plurality of driving electrodes <NUM> as shown in <FIG>.

Hereinafter, the first side surface of the according to an embodiment will be described in more detail with reference to <FIG>. <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG> respectively illustrate a cross-sectional view of a first side of a display panel according to an embodiment. For convenience, the driving electrode, the signal pad, and the dummy pad disposed on the first side surface are illustrated. A description of the same constituent elements as those of the embodiment described above will be omitted below.

Now, referring to <FIG>, the display panel <NUM> according to the embodiment may include at least two dummy pads DP. Each dummy pad DP may be disposed between the plurality of signal pads SL-P.

In <FIG>, a region combined with one flexible film is divided by dotted lines for convenience. This is referred to as one repeated unit (RU). For example, one flexible film may be combined with three pads, and the number of pads to be combined is not limited.

One flexible film may be combined with or overlap one dummy pad DP and at least two or more signal pads SL-P. Each dummy pad DP may not overlap the driving electrode <NUM>, and each signal pad SL-P may overlap the driving electrode <NUM>.

Based on the repeated unit RU in which one soft film is attached, each repeated unit RU may include one dummy pad DP and at least one or more signal pads SL-P.

One repeated unit RU includes the dummy pad DP disposed at the outermost side in the repeated unit RU. That is, the dummy pad DP may be disposed at the outermost side in a region overlapping one flexible film. As described above, the dummy pad DP may function as one alignment mark while the laser eliminating process is performed along one direction. Since the driving electrode <NUM> is manufactured based on the dummy pad DP, respective signal pads SL-P and the driving electrode <NUM> may be stably overlapped and combined to increase reliability of the display device.

Next, referring to <FIG>, at least one of the plurality of repeated units RU may include the dummy pad DP, and at least one repeated unit RU except the mentioned repeated unit may not include the dummy pad DP. In other words, at least one of the plurality of flexible films may overlap the dummy pad DP, and at least one of the plurality of flexible films except the mentioned flexible film may not overlap the dummy pad DP.

The repeated unit RU according to an embodiment may include a first repeated unit RU1 overlapping at least one dummy pad DP, and a second repeated unit RU2 overlapping the signal pad SL-P and not overlapping the dummy pad DP.

The first repeated unit RU1 may be disposed between the second repeated units RU2 according to a predetermined rule. For example, the first repeated unit RU1 may be disposed between adjacent second repeated units RU2, or the first repeated unit RU1 may be disposed between at least two second repeated units RU2. A position at which the first repeated unit RU1 is disposed may be selected according to the manufacturing process.

According to this embodiment, since the alignment between the driving electrode <NUM> and the signal pad SL-P may be continuously checked through the dummy pad DP disposed in a middle position of the plurality of pads, it is possible to provide a display device having improved reliability.

Next, referring to <FIG>, the driving electrode <NUM> coupled to the first side surface S1 of the display panel <NUM> may include a first driving electrode <NUM> and a second driving electrode <NUM> having different widths.

A width W1 of the first driving electrode <NUM> may be greater than a width W2 of the second driving electrode <NUM>. According to the embodiment, the first driving electrode <NUM> may be disposed at the outermost side of the plurality of driving electrodes <NUM> and <NUM>.

The display panel <NUM> according to an embodiment may be curved. In this case, the coupling between the signal pads SL-P disposed at both ends of the display panel <NUM> and the driving electrode <NUM> may be vulnerable to mechanical stress. According to the embodiment, the first driving electrodes <NUM> disposed at both ends may have a larger coupling area with the signal pad SL-P through a relatively greater width, thereby enabling more stable coupling. The reliability of the display device according to the embodiment may be improved.

Next, referring to <FIG>, one repeated unit RU combined with one flexible film is indicated by a dotted line for convenience. In the present specification, an embodiment in which one flexible film includes four driving electrodes <NUM> and is connected to four pads is illustrated, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

According to the embodiment, the driving electrode <NUM> coupled to the first side surface S1 of the display panel <NUM> may include the first driving electrode <NUM> and the second driving electrode <NUM> having different widths.

The width W1 of the first driving electrode <NUM> may be greater than the width W2 of the second driving electrode <NUM>. According to the embodiment, one repeated unit RU may include at least one first driving electrode <NUM> and at least one second driving electrode <NUM>. According to the embodiment, the first driving electrode <NUM> may be disposed at the outermost side based on one repeated unit RU, and at least one or more second driving electrode <NUM> may be disposed between two first driving electrodes <NUM> disposed at both ends thereof.

One repeated unit RU may overlap one flexible film, and as a width of the driving electrode <NUM> disposed at both ends overlapping the flexible film is wider, the coupling force between the flexible film and the display panel <NUM> may be improved. Therefore, the reliability of the display device may be improved.

Since the display device according to the embodiment includes the dummy pad disposed parallel to the signal pad, it is easy to pattern the driving electrode by using the dummy pad as an alignment mark. In addition, since the alignment between the driving electrode and the signal pad is accurately controlled by the dummy pad, a display device may provide improved reliability.

Claim 1:
A display device (<NUM>), comprising:
a display panel (<NUM>) including a display area (DA); and
at least a flexible film (<NUM>) attached to a first side surface (S1) of the display panel (<NUM>),
wherein a normal vector of the first side surface (S1) is orientated in a second direction (D2), and
wherein the display panel (<NUM>) comprises:
a substrate (<NUM>);
at least a signal pad (SL-P) disposed on the substrate (<NUM>), wherein a portion of the at least one signal pad (SL-P) faces towards the same direction as the first side surface (S1); and
at least a dummy pad (DP) disposed adjacent to the signal pad (SL-P) in a first direction (D1) on the substrate (<NUM>),
wherein the first direction (D1) is orthogonal to the second direction (D2),
wherein the flexible film (<NUM>) comprises:
a base film (<NUM>) disposed to face the first side surface (S1), and
at least a driving electrode (<NUM>) disposed between the base film (<NUM>) and the signal pad (SL-P), and, as seen in the second direction (D2), overlapping the portion of the at least one signal pad (SL-P) and being electrically connected to the at least one signal pad (SL-P),
wherein
the display panel (<NUM>) further comprises an encapsulation substrate (<NUM>) spaced apart from the substrate (<NUM>) in a third direction (D3),
wherein the third direction (D3) is orthogonal to the first direction (D1) and second direction (D2),
wherein the at least one signal pad (SL-P) and the at least one dummy pad (DP) are disposed between the substrate (<NUM>) and the encapsulation substrate (<NUM>) on a surface of the substrate (<NUM>) whose normal vector is oriented in the third direction (D3), and
characterised in that
the at least one dummy pad (DP) is free of an overlap with an electrode.