Patent Description:
There is an increasing demand for large screens in portable display devices including a display unit, such as mobile phones, tablet personal computers, game consoles, etc..

Meanwhile, to meet various demands of consumers, peripheral components or devices such as a camera module, a speaker, and a sensor that expand and support features of a display device need to be provided with or installed on display units of portable display devices. The <CIT> and the <CIT> disclose a display module with indented portions to accommodate a function module and a flexible printed circuit board directly bonded to extended portions of the display panel. The <CIT> disclose a display device with cut-out region to host a functional element. Further documents <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT> disclose display devices of the state of the art. The <CIT> discloses an OLED device including a triple encapsulating structure.

The present disclosure provides a display device including a display unit having an indented shape. The display unit has a form factor that can easily provide a plurality of components, particularly for a display unit having a large screen.

One or more embodiments of the present disclosure include a display device on which various components may be installed while simultaneously implementing a large screen. However, it should be understood that embodiments described herein should be considered in a descriptive sense only and not for limitation of the present disclosure.

Additional aspects will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the exemplary embodiments presented herein.

A display device according to the invention is disclosed in claim <NUM>.

The display device may further include: a flexible printed circuit board connected to the first wiring film and the second wiring film.

The flexible printed circuit board may include an integrated circuit chip that overlaps the display unit.

The encapsulation layer may include at least one inorganic layer and at least one organic layer.

The encapsulation layer may include at least one inorganic layer and at least one organic layer, an outermost layer of the encapsulation layer may be an inorganic layer, and the inorganic layer may cover a lateral surface of the at least one organic layer.

The encapsulation layer may include at least one inorganic layer and at least one organic layer, an outermost layer of the encapsulation layer may be an inorganic layer, and the inorganic layer may cover a lateral surface of the substrate in which the first indented portion is provided.

A dummy pixel for testing may be arranged outside the display unit along the first indented portion.

A first grounding portion grounded to the first wiring film and a second grounding portion grounded to the second wiring film may be respectively arranged on the first wiring film and the second wiring film.

A transparent substrate may be arranged on the encapsulation layer.

A black matrix may be arranged on the transparent substrate at a location corresponding to an outside of the display unit.

A first opening may be provided in the black matrix at a location corresponding to the first indented portion.

A second opening may be provided in the transparent substrate at a location corresponding to the first opening.

The display device further includes a polarization film between the encapsulation layer and the transparent substrate.

The display device further includes an adhesive film between the polarization film and the transparent substrate.

The display device further includes a filling material spaced apart from the adhesive film and surrounding a periphery of the display unit, the filling material being located between the substrate and the transparent substrate.

The display device may further include a cover panel arranged on the second surface of the substrate and including a buffer material.

An end of the cover panel may coincide with an end of the substrate at the first indented portion.

An end of the cover panel may protrude further to an outer side of the display unit than an end of the substrate at the first indented portion.

Each of the first pad group and the second pad group may include a plurality of pad wirings having oblique lines such that the plurality of pad wiring are symmetric with respect to a center of the first indented portion.

Each of the third pad group and the fourth pad group may include a plurality of pad wirings having oblique lines such that the plurality of pad wirings are symmetric with respect to a center of the first indented portion.

A maximum depth from an edge of a bent region of the first and second wiring film to the flexible printed circuit board may be equal to or greater than a maximum depth from the edge of the bent region of the first and second wiring film to the first indented portion.

The flexible printed circuit board may include a second indented portion facing the first indented portion and indented inward between the first wiring film and the second wiring film.

A distance from one end of the first wiring film to the flexible printed circuit board may be equal to or greater than a distance from an end of the first indented portion of the substrate to an end of the substrate.

The display device may further include a first connection wiring connecting the first wiring film to the second wiring film and located between the third pad group and the fourth pad group.

The display device may further include a second connection wiring film arranged at a location facing the first connection wiring film, wherein the first and second wiring films and the first and second connection wiring films may form a through hole.

According to one or more embodiments, a display device includes: a substrate including a first indented portion indented inward along one side of the substrate; a first pad group and a second pad group that are spaced apart from each other on the substrate along the one side; a display unit located on the substrate and having a shape indented inward between the first pad group and the second pad group; an encapsulation layer encapsulating the display unit; a first wiring film including a third pad group connected to the first pad group, the first wiring film being bent from a first surface of the substrate to a second surface of the substrate; a second wiring film including a fourth pad group connected to the second pad group, the second wiring film being bent from the first surface of the substrate to the second surface of the substrate that is opposite to the first surface of the substrate; and a first connection wiring film connecting the first wiring film to the second wiring film and located between the third pad group and the fourth pad group.

As the present disclosure allows for various changes and numerous embodiments, exemplary embodiments will be illustrated in the drawings and described in detail in the written description. Effects and characteristics of the present disclosure, and one or more methods of accomplishing these will be apparent when referring to the exemplary embodiments described with reference to the drawings. The present disclosure may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the exemplary embodiments set forth herein.

Hereinafter, the present disclosure will be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are shown. When description is made with reference to the drawings, like reference numerals in the drawings denote like or corresponding elements and repeated description thereof will be omitted.

As used herein, the term "and/or" may include any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

Expressions such as "at least one of" when preceding a list of elements, may modify the entire list of elements and may not modify the individual elements of the list.

It will be understood that when a layer, region, or component is referred to as being "formed (located, arranged, disposed, positioned, etc.) on" another layer, region, or component, it can be directly or indirectly formed (located, arranged, disposed, positioned, etc.) on the other layer, region, or component. That is, for example, one or more intervening layers, regions, or components may be present therebetween. Sizes of elements in the drawings may be exaggerated for convenience of explanation. In other words, since sizes and thicknesses of components in the drawings may be arbitrarily illustrated for convenience of explanation, the following embodiments are not limited thereto.

<FIG> are plan views of a process of connecting a substrate <NUM> to a wiring film <NUM> in a display device <NUM> according to an embodiment, <FIG> is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the display device <NUM> taken along line A1-A2 of <FIG>, <FIG> is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the display device <NUM> taken along line B1-B2 of <FIG>, and <FIG> is a cross-sectional view of portion IV of <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, the display device <NUM> according to an embodiment includes the substrate <NUM> including a first indented portion IP1 that is indented inward along one side of the substrate <NUM>, a first pad group <NUM> and a second pad group <NUM> that are arranged on the substrate <NUM> as being spaced apart from each other along one side of the substrate <NUM>, a display unit <NUM> that has a shape indented inward between the first pad group <NUM> and the second pad group <NUM>, an encapsulation layer <NUM> that encapsulates the display unit <NUM>, a third pad group <NUM> that is connected to the first pad group <NUM>, a first wiring film <NUM>-<NUM>, a fourth pad group <NUM> that is connected to the second pad group <NUM>, and a second wiring film <NUM>-<NUM> that is spaced apart from the first wiring film <NUM>-<NUM>. The first wiring film <NUM>-<NUM> and the second wiring film <NUM>-<NUM> may be collectively referred to as the wiring film <NUM>. Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the first wiring film <NUM>-<NUM> and the second wiring film <NUM>-<NUM> are bent from one side of the substrate <NUM> to another side of the substrate <NUM>.

The substrate <NUM> may include various materials such as a glass material, a metal material, or a plastic material. For example, the substrate <NUM> may include a flexible substrate including, but not limited to, a polymer resin such as polyethersulfone (PES), polyacrylate (PAR), polyetherimide (PEI), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polyarylate, polyimide (PI), polycarbonate (PC), and cellulose acetate propionate (CAP).

The substrate <NUM> includes the first indented portion IP1 that is indented inward from one side of the substrate <NUM> to an inside of the substrate <NUM>. The first indented portion IP1 may be formed by cutting the substrate <NUM> using, for example, a cutting process using a laser beam.

A component <NUM> that may provide one or more features of the display device <NUM> may be arranged in the first indented portion IP1 of the substrate <NUM>. Examples of the component <NUM> include, but are not limited to, a camera module <NUM>, a speaker <NUM>, and a sensor <NUM>. Herein, the component <NUM> collectively refers to one or more of the camera module <NUM>, the speaker <NUM>, and the sensor <NUM>, and any other component that may be arranged in the first indented portion IP1 of the substrate <NUM>. Examples of the sensor <NUM> include, but are not limited to, a proximity sensor, an illumination sensor, an acceleration sensor, and a bio sensor.

The first pad group <NUM> and the second pad group <NUM> are arranged to be spaced apart from each other on the substrate <NUM>. For example, the first pad group <NUM> and the second pad group <NUM> are arranged on two opposite sides of a region in which the first indented portion IP1 is formed.

Each of the first pad group <NUM> and the second pad group <NUM> includes a plurality of wirings that include a conductive material. Each of the first pad group <NUM> and the second pad group <NUM> may be connected to various wirings (not shown), for example, a scan line, a data line, and a power line that are connected to a plurality of pixels (not shown) arranged in the display unit <NUM> and may transfer signals to the display unit <NUM>.

The display unit <NUM> may include the plurality of pixels (not shown) that may display an image. Each of the pixels may include a display element such as an organic light-emitting diode, a liquid crystal element, an electrophoretic element, and a micro inorganic light-emitting diode. The present embodiment provides a display device that includes an organic light-emitting diode OLED (see <FIG>) as an example of the display element.

In the present embodiment, the display unit <NUM> includes a display screen that has an indented shape at least on one side, which is different from a quadrangular display screen in which four sides are substantially straight. The first indented portion IP1 has a predetermined shape and a dimension (e.g., width and height) measured from an edge of the display unit <NUM>.

The encapsulation layer <NUM> is arranged on the display unit <NUM>. The encapsulation layer <NUM> is wider than the display unit <NUM> to cover an edge of the display unit <NUM> and prevents external impurities from penetrating into the display unit <NUM>.

After the first pad group <NUM> and the second pad group <NUM> of the substrate <NUM> are respectively aligned with the third pad group <NUM> of the first wiring film <NUM>-<NUM> and the fourth pad group <NUM> of the second wiring film <NUM>-<NUM> (see <FIG>) and connected to each other (see <FIG>), each of the first and second wiring films <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> is bent from one side of the substrate <NUM> to another side of the substrate <NUM> (see <FIG> and also <FIG>).

Each of the first and second wiring films <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> may include a flexible resin such as a polyimide resin and an epoxy-based resin to facilitate bending. Each of the third pad group <NUM> and the fourth pad group <NUM> respectively of the first wiring film <NUM>-<NUM> and the second wiring film <NUM>-<NUM> may include a plurality of wirings that includes a conductive material.

A conductive bonding layer (not shown) such as an anisotropic conductive film may be arranged between the first pad group <NUM> of the substrate <NUM> and the third pad group <NUM> of the first wiring film <NUM>-<NUM> and between the second pad group <NUM> of the substrate <NUM> and the fourth pad group <NUM> of the second wiring film <NUM>-<NUM>, and the substrate <NUM> may be solidly physically bonded on and electrically connected to the first and second wiring films <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> by compression.

In the present embodiment, the first wiring film <NUM>-<NUM> and the second wiring film <NUM>-<NUM> have a length LH0 and are spaced apart from each other.

A fifth pad group <NUM> may be arranged on one side of the first wiring film <NUM>-<NUM> that faces the third pad group <NUM>, and a sixth pad group <NUM> may be arranged on one side of the second wiring film <NUM>-<NUM> that faces the fourth pad group <NUM>.

The first wiring film <NUM>-<NUM> and the second wiring film <NUM>-<NUM> may be connected to a flexible printed circuit board <NUM> respectively through the fifth pad group <NUM> and the sixth pad group <NUM>.

The first wiring film <NUM>-<NUM> and the second wiring film <NUM>-<NUM> may include a material that is more flexible than that of the flexible printed circuit board <NUM> and may be formed to be thinner than the flexible printed circuit board <NUM> to reduce bending stress.

Since the first wiring film <NUM>-<NUM> and the second wiring film <NUM>-<NUM> are spaced apart from each other with the first indented portion IP1 therebetween, when the first wiring film <NUM>-<NUM> and the second wiring film <NUM>-<NUM> are connected to the substrate <NUM> and then bent, the first wiring film <NUM>-<NUM> and the second wiring film <NUM>-<NUM> do not interfere with a space in which the component <NUM> may be arranged.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, a maximum depth H1 measured from an edge L0 to the flexible printed circuit board <NUM> may be equal to or greater than a maximum depth H21 measured from the edge L0 to an end of a cover panel <NUM>. The edge L0 refers to an outer edge of the first wiring film <NUM>-<NUM> and the second wiring film <NUM>-<NUM> when they are bent to be connected to the cover panel <NUM> formed on the substrate <NUM> as indicated in <FIG>, and <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, the end of the cover panel <NUM> may protrude further from the first indented portion IP1 toward an outer edge of the display device <NUM> than an end of the substrate <NUM>. The end of the cover panel <NUM> does not need to have the same shape as that of the first indented portion IP1. Since the end of the cover panel <NUM> protrudes further to the outer edge of the display device <NUM> than the end of the substrate <NUM>, the cover panel <NUM> stably supports the substrate <NUM> while the first wiring film <NUM>-<NUM> is bonded on the substrate <NUM>.

In the present embodiment, the maximum depth H1 measured from the edge L0 to the flexible printed circuit board <NUM> may be equal to or greater than the maximum depth H21 measured from the edge L0 to the end of the cover panel <NUM>. The component <NUM> (see <FIG>) may be arranged in a space between the edge L0 and the end of the cover panel <NUM>.

An integrated circuit chip <NUM> is mounted on the flexible printed circuit board <NUM>. The integrated circuit chip <NUM> may be arranged on a rear side of the substrate <NUM> as being spaced apart from the first indented portion IP1. Therefore, even when the first and second wiring films <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> are bent, the integrated circuit chip <NUM> may be arranged away from the first indented portion IP1 in a plan view to overlap the display unit <NUM> without causing interference with the space in which the component <NUM> may be arranged.

The integrated circuit chip <NUM> may include at least one of a scan driving circuit chip, a data driving circuit chip, and a power driving circuit chip.

A plurality of wirings (not shown) may be arranged between the integrated circuit chip <NUM> and the third and fourth pad groups <NUM> and <NUM> to transfer a signal of the integrated circuit chip <NUM> to the display unit <NUM> through the first pad group <NUM> and the second pad group <NUM>.

The cover panel <NUM> that supports the substrate <NUM> may be arranged on a rear side of the substrate <NUM>. The first and second wiring films <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> are bent to connect the flexible printed circuit board <NUM> to a rear side of the cover panel <NUM>.

The cover panel <NUM> may include a buffer material. For example, the cover panel <NUM> may include a cushion tape layer (not shown) that absorbs an impact of the rear side of the substrate <NUM> and a black tape layer (not shown) that prevents light leakage from the rear side of the substrate <NUM>.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view of a structure of the substrate <NUM>, the display unit <NUM>, the encapsulation layer <NUM>, and the cover panel <NUM> around the first indented portion IP1.

In an embodiment in which the display unit <NUM> includes an organic light-emitting diode OLED, the encapsulation layer <NUM> may include a plurality of thin layers <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. An example embodiment is described in the following but the invention is not restricted thereto.

A first thin film transistor TFT1 including a semiconductor layer <NUM>, a gate electrode <NUM>, a source electrode 16a, and a drain electrode 16b is arranged on the substrate <NUM>.

A buffer layer <NUM> is arranged between the substrate <NUM> and the semiconductor layer <NUM>, and a gate insulating layer <NUM> is arranged between the semiconductor layer <NUM> and the gate electrode <NUM>. An interlayer insulating layer <NUM> is arranged between the gate electrode <NUM> and the source and drain electrodes 16a and 16b, and a planarization layer <NUM> covers the interlayer insulating layer <NUM> and the source and drain electrodes 16a and 16b.

Each of the buffer layer <NUM>, the gate insulating layer <NUM>, and the interlayer insulating layer <NUM> may include an inorganic material such as silicon oxide, silicon nitride, and/or silicon oxynitride. The planarization layer <NUM> may include an inorganic layer and/or an organic layer.

A structure of the first thin film transistor TFT1 and a structure and a material of the insulating layers (e.g., the gate insulating layer <NUM> and the interlayer insulating layer <NUM>) shown in <FIG> are provided as an example to which the present disclosure is applicable. It is noted that the present disclosure is not limited to the structure of the first thin film transistor TFT1 and the insulating layers shown in <FIG>.

The first thin film transistor TFT1 serves as a driving transistor and is connected to a pixel electrode <NUM> to transfer a driving signal. Ends of the pixel electrode <NUM> are surrounded by a pixel-defining layer <NUM> that may include an organic insulating layer. The pixel-defining layer <NUM> may prevent an arc from occurring at the ends of the pixel electrode <NUM>.

A second thin film transistor TFT2 may be used as a transistor for testing a performance of a device rather than being used as a driving transistor. The second thin film transistor TFT2 may have the same structure as that of the first thin film transistor TFT1.

An intermediate layer (not shown) including an organic emission layer <NUM> may be arranged on the pixel electrode <NUM>. The organic emission layer <NUM> may include a low molecular organic emission material or a polymer organic emission material. In a case where the organic emission layer <NUM> includes a low molecular material, the intermediate layer may further include at least one of a hole injection layer, a hole transport layer, an electron transport layer, and an electron injection layer. In a case where the organic emission layer <NUM> includes a polymer material, the intermediate layer may further include a hole transport layer.

An opposite electrode <NUM> provided in common on a plurality of pixels PXL1 and PXL2 may be arranged on the organic emission layer <NUM>.

The organic light-emitting diode OLED including the pixel electrode <NUM>, the organic emission layer <NUM>, and the opposite electrode <NUM> is a self-luminous display element that emits light while an exciton falls from an excited state to a ground state, the exciton being generated when a hole injected from a hole injection electrode and an electron injected from an electron injection electrode combine in the organic emission layer <NUM>. Since the organic light-emitting diode OLED may be configured in a lightweight slim profile, the display device <NUM> including the organic light-emitting diode OLED may be used for a portable display device.

In <FIG>, the first pixel PXL1 that is arranged close to an inside of the display unit <NUM> corresponds to a pixel in a display area that emits light based on the above-described operating principle and displays an image of the display device <NUM>. In contrast, the second pixel PXL2 that is arranged close to the first indented portion IP1 from an edge of the substrate <NUM> may be a dummy pixel that does not display an image.

The second thin film transistor TFT2 may be connected to the second pixel PXL2. The dummy pixel may be used for a signal test, an aging test, etc. and may also be used as a barrier or a buffer for reducing a defect of the display device <NUM>.

Since the second pixel PXL2 may be damaged while the first indented portion IP1 is cut, the second pixel PXL2 may be utilized as a space used for a test or a barrier or a buffer to reduce a potential damage instead of being used as a pixel that displays an image.

The encapsulation layer <NUM> that encapsulates the display unit <NUM> may include a plurality of thin film layers. For example, in the present embodiment, the encapsulation layer <NUM> may have a structure in which a first inorganic layer <NUM>, a first organic layer <NUM>, and a second inorganic layer <NUM> are sequentially stacked. The encapsulation layer <NUM> is not limited to the present example including the three layers and may include at least one inorganic layer and at least one organic layer. Various modifications to the encapsulation layer <NUM> may be made without deviating from the scope of the present disclosure.

The first inorganic layer <NUM> and the second inorganic layer <NUM> may include silicon oxide, silicon nitride, and/or silicon oxynitride. The first organic layer <NUM> may include at least one of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), polycarbonate (PC), polyimide, polyethylene sulfonate, polyoxymethylene, polyarylate, polyacrylate, and hexamethyldisiloxane (HMDSO).

The first inorganic layer <NUM> may be curved depending on a structure thereunder, a surface of the first inorganic layer <NUM> is not flat. The first organic layer <NUM> may planarize a top surface of the encapsulation layer <NUM> by covering the first inorganic layer <NUM> that may not be flat. The second inorganic layer <NUM> may cover the first organic layer <NUM>.

As described above, when a crack may occur inside the encapsulation layer <NUM>, cracks occurred between the first inorganic layer <NUM> and the first organic layer <NUM> and between the first organic layer <NUM> and the second inorganic layer <NUM> may not be connected to each other through the multi-layered structure of the encapsulation layer <NUM>. Therefore, the multi-layered structure of the encapsulation layer <NUM> may prevent or reduce forming of a path through which external moisture or impurities such as oxygen may penetrate into the display unit <NUM>.

Meanwhile, the outermost layer of the encapsulation layer <NUM>, e.g., the second inorganic layer <NUM>, may be made of an inorganic material to prevent transmission of external moisture. In the present example, an end of the first organic layer <NUM> may be covered by the second inorganic layer <NUM>. <FIG> shows an example in which the second inorganic layer <NUM> covers a lateral surface of the substrate <NUM> along the periphery of the first indented portion IP1.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, one or more pixels that display an image are not directly exposed to a cut surface of the substrate when forming the first indented portion IP1 by arranging the dummy pixel PXL2 at a portion of the display unit <NUM> that neighbors the first indented portion IP1. In addition, the encapsulation layer <NUM> includes at least one inorganic layer and at least one organic layer, an outermost layer of the encapsulation layer <NUM> includes an inorganic layer and covers an end of the organic layer of the encapsulation layer <NUM>. Therefore, the outermost inorganic layer of the encapsulation layer <NUM> covers an end of the organic layer of the encapsulation layer <NUM> to prevent the organic layer from being directly exposed to the outside during a cutting process and hence prevent transmission of moisture through the lateral surface of the substrate <NUM> even after the cutting process.

<FIG> are plan views of comparing a display area of a display device according to an embodiment with a display area of comparative display devices.

<FIG> shows a display device according to a first comparative example. In the display device of <FIG>, the component <NUM> that may provide one or more features of the display device, such as a camera module <NUM>, a speaker <NUM>, and a sensor <NUM> is arranged at an upper end of the substrate <NUM>, and the wiring film <NUM> that mounts the integrated circuit chip <NUM> thereon is arranged at a lower end of the substrate <NUM>.

An approximate display area of the display device according to the comparative example is a first area D1 that excludes the upper end and the lower end of the substrate <NUM>.

Though the first area D1 may correspond to an area of the display unit <NUM> that is provided inwardly more than the substrate <NUM>, the substrate <NUM> is used for convenience of explaining the difference of the display areas between comparative examples in the following.

<FIG> shows a display device according to a second comparative example. In the display device of <FIG>, the first indented portion IP1 is formed at the upper end of the substrate <NUM>, and the component <NUM> that may provide one or more features of the display device, such as the camera module <NUM>, the speaker <NUM>, and the sensor <NUM> is arranged in a cut space (e.g., the first indented portion IP1) of the substrate <NUM>. Similar to the first comparative example of <FIG>, the wiring film <NUM> that includes the integrated circuit chip <NUM> is arranged at the lower end of the substrate <NUM>.

An approximate display area of the display device according to the second comparative example of <FIG> is a sum of the first area D1 and a second area D2 of the upper end of the substrate <NUM> that excludes the first indented portion IP1. Therefore, the display area of the display device according to the second comparative example of <FIG> increases compared to the display area D1 of the display device according to the first comparative example of <FIG>.

<FIG> shows a display device according to the present embodiment. In the display device of <FIG>, the first wiring film <NUM>-<NUM> and the second wiring film <NUM>-<NUM> that are spaced apart from each other are arranged at the upper end of the substrate <NUM>, and the component <NUM> that may provide one or more features of the display device, such as the camera module <NUM>, the speaker <NUM>, and the sensor <NUM> is arranged in a cut space (e.g., the first indented portion IP1) of the substrate <NUM> that is formed by the flexible printed circuit board <NUM>, and the first and second wiring films <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM>. In addition, the first and second wiring films <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> and the flexible printed circuit board <NUM> that includes the integrated circuit chip <NUM> are arranged at the upper end of the substrate <NUM>.

Therefore, an approximate display area of the display device of <FIG> is a sum of the first area D1, the second area D2 that excludes the first indented portion IP1 at the upper end of the substrate <NUM>, and a third area D3 that extends from the lower end of the substrate <NUM>. Therefore, the display area of the display device <NUM> according to the present embodiment shown in <FIG> is increased compared to the display areas of the comparative examples shown in <FIG> and <FIG>.

Therefore, the display device <NUM> of the present embodiment may facilitate mounting of one or more components thereon while enlarging a display area of the display device by using a substrate that has an indented shape.

Referring <FIG> and <FIG>, a polarization film <NUM> may be arranged on the encapsulation layer <NUM>.

According to one embodiment, the polarization film <NUM> may include a multi-linear polarization film and a circular polarizer film by bonding the films having a phase difference.

A transparent substrate <NUM> may be arranged on the polarization film <NUM>, and an adhesive film <NUM> may be arranged between the polarization film <NUM> and the transparent substrate <NUM>.

The transparent substrate <NUM> may include a transparent material. The transparent substrate <NUM> covers not only the display unit <NUM> but also an area in which the component <NUM> is arranged. The transparent substrate <NUM> may include a touchscreen panel that provides a touch-sensing feature on the display unit <NUM>.

According to one embodiment, the polarization film <NUM> may be formed on the encapsulation layer <NUM> after a processing of cutting the first indented portion IP1. In this case, the polarization film <NUM> may be cut in advance to reflect the shape of the first indented portion IP1 and then arranged on the encapsulation layer <NUM>.

According to one embodiment, after the process of cutting the first indented portion IP1, the adhesive film <NUM> may be formed on the polarization film <NUM>. In this case, the adhesive film <NUM> may be first cut or coated to reflect the shape of the first indented portion IP1 and then the adhesive film <NUM> may be arranged on the polarization film <NUM>. In another embodiment, the adhesive film <NUM> may be coated first on the transparent substrate <NUM>, which will be described below, the adhesive film <NUM> may be arranged on the polarization film <NUM> together with the transparent substrate <NUM>.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a display device <NUM> according to another embodiment. Differences between the display device <NUM> according to the embodiment of <FIG> and the display device <NUM> are mainly described.

Referring to <FIG>, an end of the cover panel <NUM> is substantially coincide with an end of the substrate <NUM> at the first indented portion IP1.

A maximum depth H1 measured from an edge L0 to the flexible printed circuit board <NUM> may be substantially equal to or greater than a maximum depth H22 measured from the edge L0 to the first indented portion IP1 that is formed in the substrate <NUM>.

In a case where the end of the cover panel <NUM> substantially coincides with the end of the substrate <NUM> at the first indented portion IP1, a space that may receive the component <NUM> may be maximized while the substrate <NUM> is still stably supported.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a display device <NUM> according to another embodiment, which may also be combined with the embodiment in <FIG> or any other embodiments as disclosed further. Differences between the display device <NUM> according to the embodiment of <FIG> and the display device <NUM> are mainly described.

Referring to <FIG>, a black matrix BM is arranged on a surface of the transparent substrate <NUM> that faces the display unit <NUM>. The black matrix BM may be arranged outside the display unit <NUM>, and a module opening MO may be formed in a region where the component <NUM> (see <FIG>) are arranged. A light leakage through the region in which the component <NUM> (see <FIG>) is arranged may be prevented by the black matrix BM.

A maximum depth H1 measured from an edge L0 to the flexible printed circuit board <NUM> may be substantially equal to or greater than a maximum depth H23 measured from the edge L0 to a side of the module opening MO of the black matrix BM that is closer to the display unit <NUM>. The component <NUM> (see <FIG>) may be arranged in a space formed by the module opening MO.

The cover panel <NUM> of the display device <NUM> may be freely designed as long as it does not overlap the module opening MO of the transparent substrate <NUM>.

Meanwhile, though not shown in <FIG>, a second opening (not shown) may be formed in a region of the transparent substrate <NUM> that corresponds to the module opening MO. Unlike the camera module <NUM> and the sensor <NUM>, the speaker <NUM> may require the second opening (not shown) that is formed in the transparent substrate <NUM> to transfer sounds.

<FIG> is a plan view illustrating that wirings of the first and second pad groups <NUM> and <NUM> and the third and fourth pad groups <NUM> and <NUM> include oblique wirings according to an embodiment, which may also be combined with the embodiment in <FIG> or any other embodiments as disclosed further.

When the substrate <NUM> is aligned with and bonded on the first and second wiring films <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM>, a conductive bonding layer (not shown) such as an anisotropic conductive film is arranged between the first pad group <NUM> of the substrate <NUM> and the third pad group <NUM> of the first wiring film <NUM>-<NUM> and between the second pad group <NUM> of the substrate <NUM> and the fourth pad group <NUM> of the second wiring film <NUM>-<NUM>, and the substrate <NUM> is solidly physically bonded on and electrically connected to the first and second wiring films <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> by compression. In this case, during the compression, the anisotropic conductive film may not be aligned in a line and thus disconnection between the anisotropic conductive film and the wirings of the pad group may occur.

The present embodiment may prevent disconnection between the anisotropic conductive film and the pad group by forming the wirings of the first and second pad groups <NUM> and <NUM> and the third and fourth pad groups <NUM> and <NUM> in oblique line shapes. The oblique line shapes of the third and fourth pad groups may be oblique with respect to the surface of the substrate <NUM> and may be symmetric with respect to an axis parallel to the surface of the substrate <NUM>. In one embodiment, the oblique lines have a slope that gradually increases from a first angle (e.g., <NUM>° when measured with respect to a vertical line) to a second angle (e.g., θ2) outwardly from a center. An angle θ1 represent an arbitrary angle between the first angle and the second angle. A width of oblique lines may be constant, and a spatial interval between adjacent oblique lines may be kept constant.

Though <FIG> shows the wirings in oblique lines having a slope that gradually increases from the first angle to the second angle outwardly from a center, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the slope angle of the oblique lines may be constant. In another example, the slope angles may gradually decrease from the first angle to the second angle or gradually increase and decrease, or gradually decrease and increase outwardly from a center. In some embodiments, widths of the oblique lines and spatial intervals between adjacent oblique lines may vary.

<FIG> is a plan view of a portion of a display device <NUM> according to another embodiment, which may also be combined with the embodiment in <FIG> or <FIG> or any other embodiments as disclosed further. When compared to the display device <NUM> according to the embodiment of <FIG>, differences are mainly described.

A maximum depth H3 measured from an end L3 of the third pad group <NUM> of the first wiring film <NUM>-<NUM> and the fourth pad group <NUM> of the second wiring film <NUM>-<NUM> to the flexible printed circuit board <NUM> may be equal to or greater than a maximum depth H4 measured from an end of the substrate <NUM> to an end of the first intended portion IP1 formed in the substrate <NUM>.

<FIG> is a plan view of a portion of a display device <NUM> according to another embodiment, which may also be combined with the embodiment in <FIG>, <FIG> or any other embodiments as disclosed further. When compared to the display device <NUM> according to the embodiment of <FIG>, differences are mainly described.

In the present embodiment, a maximum width W1L measured from a central axis C to an inner side of the first wiring film <NUM>-<NUM> may be equal to or greater than a maximum width W2L measured from the central axis C to a leftmost side of the component <NUM>, and a maximum width W1R measured from the central axis C to an inner side of the second wiring film <NUM>-<NUM> may be equal to or greater than a maximum width W2R measured from the central axis C to a rightmost side of the component <NUM>.

<FIG> is a plan view of a portion of a display device <NUM> according to another embodiment, which may also be combined with the embodiment in <FIG>, <FIG> or <FIG> or any other embodiments as disclosed further. When compared to the display device <NUM> according to the embodiment of <FIG>, differences are mainly described.

In the present embodiment, a maximum width W3 measured from an end on one side of the first indented portion IP1 formed in the substrate <NUM> to an edge of the substrate <NUM> may be equal to or greater than a maximum width W4 measured from the end on one side of the first indented portion IP1 to the central axis C. Therefore, an enough space to form the pad groups may be obtained.

<FIG> is a plan view of a portion of a display device <NUM> according to another embodiment, which may also be combined with the embodiment in <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG> or <FIG> or any other embodiments as disclosed further. When compared to the display device <NUM> according to the embodiment of <FIG>, differences are mainly described.

In the present embodiment, the wiring film <NUM> further includes a first connection wiring film <NUM>-<NUM> that is arranged between the third pad group <NUM> and the fourth pad group <NUM>. The first connection wiring film <NUM>-<NUM> may strengthen adhesive force between the substrate <NUM> and the first and second wiring films <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> by contacting a portion of the substrate <NUM> between the first pad group <NUM> and the second pad group <NUM>.

<FIG> is a plan view of a portion of a display device <NUM> according to another embodiment, which may also be combined with the embodiment in <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG> or <FIG> or any other embodiments as disclosed further. When compared to the display device <NUM> according to the embodiment of <FIG>, differences are mainly described.

In the present embodiment, the wiring film <NUM> further includes a second connection wiring film <NUM>-<NUM> that is arranged between the fifth pad group <NUM> and the sixth pad group <NUM> in addition to the first connection wiring film <NUM>-<NUM> that is arranged between the third pad group <NUM> and the fourth pad group <NUM>. The first and second wiring films <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> and the first and second connection wiring films <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> form a through hole.

The first and second connection wiring films <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> may respectively strength adhesive force between the substrate <NUM> and the first and second wiring films <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> as well as adhesive force between the first and second wiring films <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> and the flexible printed circuit board <NUM>.

<FIG> is a plan view of a portion of a display device <NUM> according to another embodiment, which may also be combined with the embodiment in <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG> or <FIG> or any other embodiments as disclosed further. When compared to the display device <NUM> according to the embodiment of <FIG>, differences are mainly described.

In the present embodiment, the first wiring film <NUM>-<NUM> includes a first grounding portion <NUM>-1E, and the second wiring film <NUM>-<NUM> includes a second grounding portion <NUM>-2E. Each of the first grounding portion <NUM>-1E and the second grounding portion <NUM>-2E may include a conductive material. The first grounding portion <NUM>-1E and the second grounding portion <NUM>-2E may be respectively grounded on the first wiring film <NUM>-<NUM> and the second wiring film <NUM>-<NUM> to prevent generation of static electricity of the first wiring film <NUM>-<NUM> and the second wiring film <NUM>-<NUM> and suppress or block an electric noise.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a display device 10E according to another embodiment, which may also be combined with the embodiment in <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG> or <FIG> or any other embodiments as disclosed further. When compared to the display device <NUM> according to the embodiment of <FIG>, differences are mainly described.

In the present embodiment, a filling material <NUM> is further arranged between the substrate <NUM> and the transparent substrate <NUM>. The filling material <NUM> may disperse an impact applied to the substrate <NUM> and the transparent substrate <NUM>. Since the filling material <NUM> surrounds an edge of the encapsulation layer <NUM> without coming into a direct contact with the display unit <NUM> and is also spaced apart from the adhesive film <NUM> by a predetermined interval, a chemical reaction between the filling material <NUM> and the adhesive film <NUM> may be prevented, and the filling material <NUM> may be prevented from penetrating into the display unit <NUM>.

<FIG> are plan views of a portion of a display device 11E according to another embodiment, which may also be combined with the embodiment in <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG> or any other embodiments as disclosed further. When compared to the display device <NUM> according to the embodiment of <FIG>, differences are mainly described.

In the present embodiment, a second indented portion IP2 is formed in one side of the flexible printed circuit board <NUM> that faces the first indented portion IP1. The second indented portion IP2 provides more space between the flexible printed circuit board <NUM> and the component <NUM> when lengths of the first wiring film <NUM>-<NUM> and the second wiring film <NUM>-<NUM> of the display device 11E are shortened compared to the display device <NUM> of <FIG>.

<FIG> is a view of various shapes of a first indented portion according to an embodiment, which may also be combined with the embodiment in <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>. <FIG> shows a first indented portion IP11 having a semicircular shape, a first indented portion IP12 having a semi-elliptical shape, a first indented portion IP13 having an arch shape, and a first indented portion IP14 having a quadrangular shape. However, it is noted that the shape of the first indented portion formed in the substrate <NUM> according to the present disclosure is not limited to the exemplary shapes shown in <FIG>.

<FIG> is a view of various shapes of a second indented portion formed in the flexible printed circuit board <NUM>. <FIG> shows a second indented portion IP21 having a semicircular shape, a second indented portion IP22 having a semi-elliptical shape, a second indented portion IP23 having a rectangular shape, and a second indented portion IP24 having a quadrangular shape. However, it is noted that the shape of the second indented portion formed in the flexible printed circuit board <NUM> according to the present disclosure is not limited to the exemplary shapes shown in <FIG>.

Claim 1:
A display device comprising:
a substrate (<NUM>) including a first indented portion (IP1) indented inward along one side of the substrate (<NUM>);
a first pad group (<NUM>) and a second pad group (<NUM>) that are spaced apart from each other on the substrate (<NUM>) along the one side;
a display unit (<NUM>) located on the substrate (<NUM>) and having a shape indented inward between the first pad group (<NUM>) and the second pad group (<NUM>);
an encapsulation layer (<NUM>) encapsulating the display unit (<NUM>);
a first wiring film (<NUM>-<NUM>) including a third pad group (<NUM>) connected to the first pad group (<NUM>), the first wiring film (<NUM>-<NUM>) being bent from a first surface of the substrate (<NUM>) to a second surface of the substrate (<NUM>) that is opposite to the first surface of the substrate (<NUM>); and
a second wiring film (<NUM>-<NUM>) including a fourth pad group (<NUM>) connected to the second pad group (<NUM>), the second wiring film (<NUM>-<NUM>) being bent from the first surface of the substrate (<NUM>) to the second surface of the substrate (<NUM>) and spaced apart from the first wiring film (<NUM>-<NUM>),
a transparent substrate (<NUM>) being arranged on the encapsulation layer (<NUM>),
characterised by
a polarization film (<NUM>) between the encapsulation layer (<NUM>) and the transparent substrate (<NUM>),
an adhesive film (<NUM>) between the polarization film (<NUM>) and the transparent substrate (<NUM>), and
a filling material (<NUM>) spaced apart from the adhesive film (<NUM>) and surrounding an edge of the encapsulating layer (<NUM>) without coming into contact with the display unit (<NUM>), the filling material (<NUM>) being located between the substrate (<NUM>) and the transparent substrate (<NUM>) and contacting the substrate (<NUM>) and the transparent substrate (<NUM>).