Patent Description:
A display device is an electronic device for displaying images, and along with the recent technological development, research on a curved display device is being conducted in order to increase image immersion. The document <CIT> is an example for a curved display device.

A curved display device provides a sense of immersion because it gives the impression that a viewer is in a space by bending the side on which images are viewed, and a typical curved display device may be fabricated by thinning and bending the curved display device.

On the other hand, in order to fabricate a curved display device, the thickness of the display device may be designed and fabricated to be thin at the time of initial fabrication. If this is not the case, a curved display device may be fabricated by thinning, through a process as etching, and bending the display device.

An object of the present invention is to provide a display device with a small thickness deviation of a protruding region located on an edge of the display device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a fabrication method of a display device with a small thickness deviation of a protruding region located on an edge of the display device.

According to an example embodiment, a display device includes a first substrate and a second substrate having one surface opposite to one surface of the first substrate. The first substrate includes a first-one portion that overlaps the second substrate in a thickness direction and a first-two portion that does not overlap the second substrate. The second substrate includes a second portion that overlaps the first substrate in the thickness direction. The first-two portion has a greater thickness than the first-one portion. The second portion includes a second-one portion that overlaps the first-one portion in the thickness direction and a second-two portion disposed between the second-one portion and the first-two portion in a plan view. The second-two portion has a greater thickness than the second-one portion. The second-two portion is disposed so as not to overlap the first-two portion in the thickness direction.

The first-one portion includes a first-one-one portion and a first-one-two portion disposed between the first-one-one portion and the first-two portion, and the first-one-one portion has a greater thickness than the first-one-two portion.

The second-one portion includes a second-one-one portion disposed to overlap the first-one-one portion in the thickness direction and a second-one-two portion disposed to overlap the first-one-two portion in the thickness direction, and the second-one-one portion has a greater thickness than the second-one-two portion.

The first-one-one portion has a smaller thickness than the first-two portion, and the second-one-one portion has a smaller thickness than the second-two portion.

The first-one-two portion and the second-one-two portion may be multi-etched regions, the first-one-one portion and the first-one-two portion may be single-etched regions, and the first-two portion and the second-two portion may be non-etched regions.

The width of the first-one-one portion toward the first-one-two portion may be the same as the width of the second-one-one portion toward the second-one-two portion.

The width of the first-two portion toward the first-one portion may be smaller than the width of the second-two portion toward the first-one portion.

The first substrate and the second substrate may include curved surfaces obtained by bending the first-one portion and the second-one portion, respectively.

The display device may further include a driving connection film attached to the first-two portion of the first substrate.

The display device may further include a driving circuit board connected to the driving connection film.

According to another example embodiment, a fabrication method of a display device includes operations of preparing a flat display device including a first substrate member, a second substrate member having one surface opposite to one surface of the first substrate member, and a driving connection film attached to a part of the first substrate member protruding at one end farther than the second substrate member, asymmetrically masking, at one end, the other surface, which is opposite to the one surface of the first substrate member, and the other surface, which is opposite to the one surface of the second substrate member, and first etching the other surface of the first substrate member and the other surface of the second substrate member.

In the operation of asymmetrically masking, at one end, the other surface, which is opposite to the one surface of the first substrate member, and the other surface, which is opposite to the one surface of the second substrate member, the length of the masked surface of the first substrate member may be smaller than the length of the masked surface of the second substrate member.

After the operation of first etching the other surface of the first substrate member and the other surface of the second substrate member, the fabrication method may further include an operation of masking the other surface of the first substrate member and the other surface of the second substrate member at the other end facing the one end.

In the operation of masking the other surface of the first substrate member and the other surface of the second substrate member at the other end facing the one end, the length of the masked surface of the first substrate member may be the same as the length of the masked surface of the second substrate member.

Any other specific details of the embodiments are included in the detailed description and drawings.

With the display device and the fabrication method thereof according to example embodiments, it is possible to minimize the thickness variation of a protruding region placed on an edge of the display device.

Effects according to the embodiments are not limited by the contents described above, and further various effects are included in the present disclosure.

Advantages and features of the present invention and implementation methods thereof will be clarified through the following embodiments described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to embodiments disclosed herein and may be implemented in various different forms. The embodiments are provided for making the disclosure of the prevention invention thorough and for fully conveying the scope of the present invention to those skilled in the art. It is to be noted that the scope of the present invention is defined by the claims.

Also, when it is mentioned that an element or layer is "on" another element or layer, the element or layer may be formed directly on the other element or layer, or a third element or layer may be interposed therebetween.

It will be also understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. Thus, a first element could be termed a second element without departing from the technical spirit of the present invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<FIG> is a perspective view schematically illustrating a display device according to an embodiment.

Referring to <FIG>, when a display device is a device including a display region for displaying a picture or an image, the device may be interpreted as corresponding to the display device regardless of the main purpose, additional functions, or the name thereof. For example, the display device may include a small game machine, a large game machine such as a slot machine used in a casino, an electronic blackboard, an e-book, a smartphone, a mobile phone, a tablet PC, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a portable multimedia player (PMP), a television, a personal computer monitor, a notebook computer, a car navigation system, a car dashboard, a digital camera, a camcorder, an external billboard, an electric sign, various medical devices, various inspection devices, various home appliances including displays such as refrigerators and washing machines, and Internet of Things (IoT) devices, and the present invention is not limited to the above-described examples.

In an embodiment, the display device has a rectangular shape including two opposite long sides (an upper side and a lower side when the display surface is viewed in the drawing) and two opposite short sides (the left and right sides when the display surface is viewed in the drawing). As shown in <FIG>, with respect to the normal direction of the display screen, the long sides of the display device may be arranged transversely as shown in <FIG>, but the long sides of the display device may be arranged longitudinally.

In the drawing, three direction axes are defined. A first direction DR1 may be a short-side extension direction of the display device, a second direction DR2 may be a long-side extension direction of the display device, and a third direction DR3 may be a thickness direction of the display device.

The display device may have a curved shape. That is, the display surface of the display device may include a convex or concave curved surface. In an embodiment, as shown, the display device may include a curved surface that is bent in the second direction (DR2) side (along the long side in the drawing) and that is straight in the first direction (DR1) side (along the short side in the drawing). The DR2 side may be bent to be concave in the third direction DR3. That is, as shown, the curved surface of the display device may include a concave surface that is concavely curved in the display direction when the display surface is viewed. The curved display device may be formed by bending a flat panel display device.

The curvature of the curved portion in the display device may be constant. That is, the curved portion of the display device may be placed on a portion (arc) of a circle having a constant radius with respect to the center. The radius of curvature of the display device is not limited thereto but may be <NUM> to <NUM> or <NUM> to <NUM>.

A liquid crystal display (LCD) may be applied as the display device. In the following embodiments, a liquid crystal display is taken as an example of the display device, but the display device is not limited thereto. The present invention is applicable to an electrophoretic display (EPD), an organic light-emitting display (OLED), and a micro-light-emitting diode (micro-LED), a plasma display panel (PDP), a field-emission display (FED), a cathode-ray tube (CRT), and the like.

The display device includes a first substrate <NUM>, a second substrate <NUM> opposite to the first substrate <NUM>, and a liquid crystal layer <NUM> interposed between the first substrate <NUM> and the second substrate <NUM>. A sealing member <NUM> is disposed on edges of the first substrate <NUM> and the second substrate <NUM> to couple the first substrate <NUM> and the second substrate <NUM> and prevent liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer <NUM> (<FIG>) from leaking to the outside.

The first substrate <NUM> and the second substrate <NUM> of the display device may include curved surfaces having the same shape. That is, the display device may include the first substrate <NUM>, which is curved, and the second substrate <NUM>, which is curved.

One of the first substrate <NUM> and the second substrate <NUM> is a thin-film transistor substrate, and the other may be a color filter substrate. In this embodiment, as an example, the first substrate <NUM> is a thin-film transistor substrate, and the second substrate <NUM> is a color filter substrate. The display direction may be an outer direction of the top surface of the second substrate <NUM>.

The first substrate <NUM>, which is a thin-thin transistor substrate, may protrude farther than the second substrate <NUM>. For example, one end of the first substrate <NUM> in the first direction DR1 may protrude farther than one end of the second substrate <NUM> in the first direction DR1. At least a portion of a driving unit for driving each pixel of the thin-film transistor substrate may be disposed on a portion where the first substrate <NUM> protrudes from and does not overlap the second substrate <NUM>. For example, the driving unit may include a driving connection film <NUM> and a driving circuit board <NUM> connected to the driving connection film <NUM>, and the driving connection film <NUM> may be attached to the non-overlapping portion of the first substrate <NUM>. That is, the driving connection film <NUM> may not overlap the second substrate <NUM>.

Although not shown, the display device may further include a polarizing film. The polarizing film may be attached to the rear surfaces of the first substrate <NUM> and the second substrate <NUM>. The attachment region of the polarizing film may be in an etched region, which will be described below, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

The display device will be described in more detail below with reference to <FIG>.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II' in the display device of <FIG>, <FIG> is a cross-sectional view taken along line III- III' in the display device of <FIG>, and <FIG> is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV- IV' in the display device of <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, each of the first substrate <NUM> and the second substrate <NUM> may include an insulating substrate made of glass, quartz, etc., and structures disposed thereon such as wiring, metal, a semiconductor layer, an insulating film, a color filter, and a black matrix. The structures may be disposed on one opposite surfaces 201b and 301b of the insulating substrate of the first substrate <NUM> and the insulating substrate of the second substrate <NUM>. One surfaces 201b and 301b of the insulating substrate of the first substrate <NUM> and the insulating substrate of the second substrate <NUM> are flat, but the other surfaces (or rear surfaces) 201a and 301a, which are opposite surfaces, may include a region that protrudes or is recessed through etching. In the drawings, for convenience, the illustration of the structures disposed on the insulating substrate is omitted, and only the shapes of the insulating substrates of the first substrate <NUM> and the second substrate <NUM> are shown. Hereinafter, when referring to the rear shape of the first substrate <NUM> or the second substrate <NUM>, the corresponding shape may refer to a rear shape of the insulating substrate of the first substrate <NUM> or a rear shape of the insulating substrate of the second substrate <NUM>. However, the embodiment is not limited to the above example, and another additional layer is disposed on the rear surface of the insulating substrate of the first substrate <NUM> or the second substrate <NUM>, and the corresponding layer is etched or polished to form a protruding or depressed region.

The driving connection film <NUM> is attached to one end of the first substrate <NUM> in the first direction DR1. The driving connection film <NUM> serves to connect the first substrate <NUM> and the driving circuit board <NUM>. The driving connection film <NUM> may be attached to one surface <NUM> of the first substrate <NUM> with a first conductive anisotropic film <NUM> interposed therebetween. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the driving connection film <NUM> may be directly attached to one surface of the first substrate <NUM> through soldering or ultrasonic bonding. A region of the first substrate to which the driving connection film <NUM> is attached may be a region overlapping a first protruding region <NUM>. The driving connection film <NUM>, which is a film including a signal line, may include a flexible film. The driving connection film <NUM> may be a flexible printed circuit board (FPC), a tab, a connect film, or the like. The driving connection film <NUM> may be spaced apart from a first sealing material <NUM>. That is, the driving connection film <NUM> may be located on one side in the first direction DR1 with respect to the first sealing material <NUM>.

The driving circuit board <NUM> may be attached to one end of the driving connection film <NUM>. The attachment between the driving connection film <NUM> and the driving circuit board <NUM> may be made by a second conductive anisotropic film <NUM> interposed therebetween. When soldering or ultrasonic bonding is used to couple the driving connection film <NUM> and the driving circuit board <NUM>, the second conductive anisotropic film <NUM> may be omitted.

The driving circuit board <NUM> may be formed of a printed circuit board (PCB). A driving chip may be disposed on the driving circuit board <NUM>. In some embodiments, the driving chip may be disposed on the driving connection film.

In the drawing, as an example, the driving circuit board <NUM> and the driving connection film <NUM> for connection of the driving circuit board <NUM> are disposed at one end of the first substrate <NUM> in the first direction DR1. However, the driving circuit board <NUM> and the driving connection film <NUM> may be disposed at the other end of the first substrate <NUM> in the first direction DR1 or may be disposed at one end or the other end of the first substrate <NUM> in the second direction DR2. Also, a plurality of driving circuit boards <NUM> and a plurality of driving connection films <NUM> are provided and attached adjacent to two or more sides of the first substrate <NUM>.

In some embodiments, one driving circuit board <NUM> may be connected to the first substrate <NUM> by the plurality of driving connection films <NUM>. That is, as shown in <FIG>, the plurality of driving connection films <NUM>, which has a smaller width than the driving circuit board <NUM>, may be attached to the driving circuit board <NUM>. The neighboring driving connection films <NUM> may be spaced apart from each other.

Each of the first substrate <NUM> and the second substrate <NUM> includes a first thickness region with a first thickness, a second thickness region with a second thickness greater than the first thickness, and a third thickness region with a third thickness greater than the second region. The first thickness region may be, but is not limited to, a region having a thickness reduced by the first etching and the second etching, and is hereinafter referred to as multi-etched regions <NUM> and <NUM>. The second thickness region is a region that protrudes from the first thickness region, and is hereinafter referred to as single-etched regions <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. The third thickness region is a region that protrudes from the first thickness region and the third thickness region, and is hereinafter referred to as non-etched regions <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>.

The display device includes a display region, which is located at the center, and a non-display region (or a bezel region) around the display region. The multi-etched regions <NUM> and <NUM> overlap the display region, and the single-etched regions <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> and the non-etched regions <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> overlap the non-display region. The multi-etched regions <NUM> and <NUM> may extend to a portion of the non-display region and further overlap the non-display region. On the other hand, the single-etched regions <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> and the non-etched regions <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may not overlap the display region. The single-etched regions <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> and the non-etched regions <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> are disposed on edges of the display device. The multi-etched regions <NUM> and <NUM> are located between, and further surrounded by, the single-etched regions <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> and the non-etched regions <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>.

More specifically, the first substrate <NUM> includes a first non-etched region <NUM> formed at one end in the first direction DR1 (the right ends in <FIG> and <FIG>) and first single-etched regions <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> formed at the other end in the first direction DR1 (the left ends in <FIG> and <FIG>), one end in the second direction DR2 (the right end in <FIG>), and the other end in the second direction DR2 (the left end in <FIG>).

The second substrate <NUM> includes a second non-etched region <NUM> formed at one end in the first direction DR1 (the right ends in <FIG> and <FIG>) and second single-etched regions <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> formed at the other end in the first direction DR1 (the left ends in <FIG> and <FIG>), one end in the second direction DR2 (the right end in <FIG>), and the other end in the second direction DR2 (the left end in <FIG>).

Here, the other side in the first direction DR1 refers to a side opposite to the one side in the first direction DR1, which is used below as the same meaning when describing one side and the other side in the other direction.

The non-etched regions <NUM> and <NUM> and the single-etched regions <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may be formed to protect the driving connection film <NUM> or prevent damage to the first substrate <NUM> or the second substrate <NUM> when the first substrate <NUM> and the second substrate <NUM> is bent into a desired curved shape while the first substrate <NUM> or the second substrate is thinned.

Also, the first substrate <NUM> includes a first multi-etched region <NUM> surrounded by the first non-etched region <NUM> and the first single-etched regions <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, and the second substrate <NUM> includes a second multi-etched region <NUM> surrounded by the second non-etched region <NUM> and the second single-etched regions <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>.

The first non-etched region <NUM> on one side in the first direction DR1 is disposed not to overlap, in the thickness direction, the second non-etched region <NUM> on one side in the first direction DR1, and the first multi-etched region <NUM> is disposed not to overlap, in the thickness direction, the second multi-etched region <NUM> and the second non-etched region <NUM> on one side in the first direction DR1. The width W2 of the first non-etched region <NUM> may be smaller than the width W1 of the second non-etched region <NUM>. For example, the width W2 of the first non-etched region <NUM> may be smaller than or equal to twice the width W1 of the second non-etched region <NUM>, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

The first single-etched region <NUM> on the other side in the first direction DR1 is disposed to overlap, in the thickness direction, the second single-etched region <NUM> on the other side in the first direction DR1. The width W3 of the first single-etched region <NUM> may be equal to the width W3 of the second single-etched region <NUM>, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

The first single-etched region <NUM> on one side in the second direction DR2 may be disposed to overlap, in the thickness direction, the second single-etched region <NUM> on one side in the second direction DR2, and the first single-etched region <NUM> on the other side in the second direction DR2 may be disposed to overlap, in the thickness direction, the second single-etched region <NUM> on the other side in the second direction DR2. The width W3 of the first single-etched region <NUM> at one side in the second direction DR2 may be equal to the width W3 of the second single-etched region <NUM> at one side in the second direction DR2, but the present invention is not limited thereto. All of the single-etched regions <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> are illustrated as having the same width, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

The first substrate <NUM> includes one surface 201b facing one surface 301b of the second substrate <NUM> and other surfaces 201a, 202a1, 202a2, 202a3, and 202a4 opposite to the one surface 201b, and the second substrate <NUM> includes one surface 301b facing the one surface 201b of the first substrate <NUM> and other surfaces 301a, 302a1, 302a2, 302a3, and 302a4 opposite to the one surface 301b. Although the cross-sectional shapes of the surfaces 201b and 301b of the first substrate <NUM> and the second substrate <NUM> are shown to be linear in the first direction DR1, a display device including the first substrate <NUM> and the second substrate <NUM> may be a curved display device, as described above, and thus may be bent with a predetermined curvature. The cross-sectional shapes of the surfaces 201b and 301b of the first substrate <NUM> and the second substrate <NUM> may be located over one curve (in the case of a curved display device), unlike the other surfaces 201a, 202a1, 202a2, 202a3, 202a4, 301a, 302a1, 302a2, 302a3, and 302a4 of the first substrate <NUM> and the second substrate <NUM>. The other surfaces 201a, 202a1, 202a2, 202a3, 202a4, 301a, 302a1, 302a2, 302a3, and 302a4 of the first substrate <NUM> and the second substrate <NUM> include different regions in the thickness direction and thus may have a cross-sectional shape with an uneven surface. That is, the cross-sectional shapes of the other surfaces 201a, 202a1, 202a2, 202a3, 202a4, 301a, 302a1, 302a2, 302a3, and 302a4 of the first substrate <NUM> and the second substrate <NUM> may not be placed on the same curve (in the case of a curved display device).

The thickness t3 of the first non-etched region <NUM> of the first substrate <NUM> is greater than the thickness t4 of the first single-etched regions <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, and the thickness t4 of the first single-etched regions <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> is greater than the thickness t6 of the first multi-etched region <NUM>. The thickness t1 of the second non-etched region <NUM> of the second substrate <NUM> is greater than the thickness t2 of the second single-etched regions <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, and the thickness t2 of the second single-etched regions <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> is greater than the thickness t5 of the second multi-etched region <NUM>.

Specifically, the other surface 202a2 in the first non-etched region <NUM> of the first substrate <NUM> may protrude downward in the third direction DR3 farther than the other surfaces 202a1, 202a3, and 202a4 in the first single-etched regions <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. In other words, the other surfaces 202a1, 202a3, and 202a4 in the first single-etched regions <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may be further depressed or recessed in the thickness direction DR3 than the other surface 202a2 in the first non-etched region <NUM>. Also, the other surfaces 202a1, 202a3, and 202a4 in the first single-etched regions <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may protrude downward in the third direction DR3 farther than the other surface 201a in the first multi-etched region <NUM>. In other words, the other surface 201a in the first multi-etched regions <NUM> may be further depressed or recessed in the thickness direction DR3 than the other surfaces 202a1, 202a3, and 202a4 in the first single-etched regions <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>.

Also, the other surface 302a2 in the second non-etched region <NUM> of the second substrate <NUM> may protrude upward in the third direction DR3 farther than the other surfaces 302a1, 302a3, and 302a4 in the second single-etched regions <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. In other words, the other surfaces 302a1, 302a3, and 302a4 in the second single-etched regions <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may be further depressed or recessed in the thickness direction DR3 than the other surface 302a2 in the second non-etched region <NUM>. Also, the other surfaces 302a1, 302a3, and 302a4 in the second single-etched regions <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may protrude upward in the third direction DR3 farther than the other surface 301a in the second multi-etched regions <NUM>. In other words, the other surface 301a in the second multi-etched regions <NUM> may be further depressed or recessed in the thickness direction DR3 than the other surfaces 302a1, 302a3, and 302a4 in the second single-etched regions <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>.

Thus, the multi-etched regions <NUM> and <NUM> may be easily bent in the curving process due to their small thickness.

The first substrate <NUM> includes a side surface 204a2 included in the first non-etched region <NUM> on one side in the first direction DR1, a side surface 204a1 included in the first single-etched region <NUM> on the other side in the first direction DR1, a side surface 204a4 included in the first single-etched region <NUM> on one side in the second direction DR2, and a side surface 204a3 included in the first single-etched region <NUM> on the other side in the second direction DR2. The second substrate <NUM> may include a side surface 304a2 included in the second non-etched region <NUM> on one side in the first direction DR1, a side surface 304a1 included in the second single-etched region <NUM> on the other side in the first direction DR1, a side surface 304a4 included in the second single-etched region <NUM> on one side in the second direction DR2, and a side surface 304a3 included in the second single-etched region <NUM> on the other side in the second direction DR2.

The side surface 204a1 included in the first single-etched region <NUM> on the other side in the first direction DR1 and the side surface 304a1 included in the second single-etched region <NUM> on the other side in the first direction DR1 may be assigned in the thickness direction (the third direction DR3), the side surface 204a4 included in the first single-etched region <NUM> on one side in the second direction DR2 and the side surface 304a4 included in the second single-etched region <NUM> on one side in the second direction DR2 may be arranged in the thickness direction (the third direction DR3), and the side surface 204a3 included in the first single-etched region <NUM> on the other side in the second direction DR2 and the side surface 304a3 included in the second single-etched region <NUM> on the other side in the second direction DR2 may be arranged in the thickness direction (the third direction DR3). On the other hand, as described above, the first non-etched region <NUM> on one side in the first direction DR1 may not be disposed to overlap, in the thickness direction, the second non-etched region <NUM> on one side in the first direction DR1 and may be disposed outside in the first direction DR1 as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>. That is, the side surface 204a2 included in the first non-etched region <NUM> on one side in the first direction DR1 may be located more outside in the first direction DR1 than the side surface 304a2 included in the second non-etched region <NUM> on one side in the first direction DR1.

The first substrate <NUM> and the second substrate <NUM> include the multi-etched regions <NUM> and <NUM>, the plurality of non-etched regions <NUM> and <NUM>, and connection surfaces 203a1, 203a2, 203a3, 203a4, 303a1, 303a2, 303a3, and 303a4 between the multi-etched regions <NUM> and <NUM> and the plurality of single-etched regions <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. The first substrate <NUM> and the second substrate <NUM> include the connection surfaces 203a1, 203a2, 203a3, 203a4, 303a1, 303a2, 303a3, and 303a4. With respect to the surfaces 201a and 301a of the multi-etched regions <NUM> and <NUM>, an inclined surface having a right angle or an obtuse angle may be formed.

A liquid crystal layer <NUM> may be disposed between one surface 201b of the first substrate <NUM> and one surface 301b of the second substrate <NUM>. Also, a sealing member <NUM> is disposed between the first substrate <NUM> and the second substrate <NUM>. The sealing member <NUM> may be formed along the edges of the second substrate <NUM> and between the first substrate <NUM> and the second substrate <NUM> and may be disposed to overlap the non-etched regions <NUM> and <NUM> and the single-etched regions <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>.

In the display device according to an embodiment, by arranging the first non-etched region <NUM> of the first substrate <NUM> and the second non-etched region <NUM> of the second substrate <NUM> so that the regions do not overlap, the thicknesses of the protruding regions of the first substrate <NUM> and the second substrate <NUM> are made uniform as a whole. That is, the first non-etched region <NUM> that has the largest thickness in the first substrate <NUM> is located on one side of the cross-sectional shape (<FIG>) of the display device in the first direction DR1, the second non-etched region <NUM> that is adjacent to and does not overlap the first non-etched region <NUM> and that has the largest thickness in the second substrate <NUM> is located on one side in the first direction DR1, the single-etched regions <NUM> and <NUM> that are thinner than the non-etched regions <NUM> and <NUM> and that are thicker than the multi-etched regions <NUM> and <NUM> are located on the other side in the first direction DR1, the single-etched regions <NUM> and <NUM> that are thinner than the non-etched regions <NUM> and <NUM> and that are thicker than the multi-etched regions <NUM> and <NUM> are located on one side in the second direction DR2, and the single-etched regions <NUM> and <NUM> that are thinner than the non-etched regions <NUM> and <NUM> and that are thicker than the multi-etched regions <NUM> and <NUM> are located on the other side in the second direction DR2.

By making the thickness of the protruding region of the curved display device uniform as a whole, it is possible to prevent physical damage or cracks in some regions because stress due to a curved surface or bending is not different for each region even if the first substrate <NUM> and the second substrate <NUM> have a curved shape.

A fabrication method of the display device according to an embodiment will be described below. In the following embodiments, descriptions of the same components as those of the previous embodiments will be omitted or simplified, and differences will be mainly described.

<FIG> is a flowchart of a fabrication method of the display device according to an embodiment, <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG> are perspective views sequentially illustrating a portion of the fabrication process of the display device, <FIG> is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII- VII' of <FIG>. <FIG> is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII' of <FIG>, <FIG> is a cross-sectional view taken along line X- X' of <FIG>, and <FIG>are perspective views sequentially illustrating a portion of the fabrication process of the display device.

Referring to <FIG>, first, a flat display device including a first substrate member 200a, a second substrate member 300a having a first surface opposite to a first surface of the first substrate member 200a, a driving connection film <NUM> attached to a portion of the first substrate member 200a that is placed at one end to protrude farther than the second substrate member 300a, and a driving circuit board <NUM> connected to the driving connection film <NUM> is prepared (S1).

The first substrate member 200a and the second substrate member 300a correspond to the first substrate <NUM> and the second substrate <NUM>, respectively, in the display device according to an embodiment. The first substrate member 200a and the second substrate member 300a refer to a substrate member before first etching and a substrate member before second etching, respectively.

The first surface of the first substrate member 200a corresponds to one surface 201b of the first substrate <NUM>, and the first surface of the second substrate member 300a corresponds to one surface 301b of the second substrate <NUM>.

The portion of the first substrate member 200a that protrudes farther than the second substrate member 300a corresponds to one end of the first substrate <NUM> in the first direction DR1.

As shown in <FIG>, the first substrate member 200a has a third thickness t3, and the second substrate member 300a has a first thickness t1.

Since the first substrate member 200a, the second substrate member 300a, the sealing member <NUM>, and the liquid crystal layer <NUM> have been described above, redundant description thereof will be omitted.

Next, referring to <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, a second surface opposite to the first surface of the first substrate member 200a and a second surface opposite to the first surface of the second substrate member 300a are asymmetrically masked at the one end (S2). The masking operation S2 is performed before an etching process. The masking operation S2 refers to first masking.

A masking member <NUM>, which is used for masking, may be formed in the shape of an envelope with one open end and is installed to cover portions that are to form non-etched regions <NUM> and <NUM> (see <FIG> and <FIG>). As another example, the masking member <NUM> may be formed in a film form to be installed by wrapping, over an edge, a portion that is to form a second non-etched region <NUM> (see <FIG> and <FIG>) in one surface (the second surface of the second substrate member 300a) of the flat display device to a portion that is to form a first non-etched region <NUM> (see <FIG> and <FIG>) in the other surface (the second surface of the first substrate member 200a) of the flat display device. At this time, when the driving connection film <NUM> is attached to an edge portion where the masking member <NUM> is to be installed, the driving connection film <NUM> may cover the edge portion or may also be attached over.

An acid-resistant adhesive tape (not shown) may be installed on the edge of the masking member <NUM> to easily attach the masking member <NUM> to the outer surface of the flat panel display device. When the masking member <NUM> is formed in a film form and attached over, both ends of the masking member <NUM> are attached by an acid-resistant adhesive tape or by thermal sealing in order to prevent the penetration of etchant. The masking member <NUM> itself may be made of an adhesive tape.

In the display device according to an embodiment, the first non-etched region <NUM> of the first substrate <NUM> is located more outside in the first direction DR1 than the second non-etched region <NUM> of the second substrate <NUM>, and the first non-etched region <NUM> and the second non-etched region <NUM> are disposed not to overlap each other in the thickness direction. To form this, in the masking operation S2 of the fabrication process of the display device, the masking member <NUM> is asymmetrically disposed. That is, as shown in <FIG>, the length of the masking member <NUM> covering the second substrate member 300a in the first direction DR1 is the length of the masking member <NUM> covering the first substrate member 200a in the first direction DR1. That is, the masking member <NUM> is disposed such that an end of the masking member <NUM> covering the second substrate member 300a protrudes to the other side in the first direction DR1 farther than an end of the masking member <NUM> covering the first substrate member 200a.

Accordingly, a cross-sectional shape of one side, in the first direction DR1, of the display device according to an embodiment shown in <FIG> may be fabricated.

Subsequently, referring to <FIG>, the second surface of the first substrate member 200a and the second surface of the second substrate member 300a are first etched S3.

In the masking operation S2, the masking member <NUM> covers portions that are to form the non-etched regions <NUM> and <NUM> (see <FIG> and <FIG>) and exposes the single-etched regions <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> (see <FIG>) and the multi-etched regions <NUM> and <NUM> (see <FIG>). Thus, the exposed single-etched regions <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> (see <FIG>) and the exposed multi-etched regions <NUM> and <NUM> (see <FIG>) are first etched by etchant.

As a result, in the first substrate member 200b and the second substrate member 300b, as shown in <FIG>, the non-etched regions <NUM> and <NUM> (see <FIG> and <FIG>) covered by the masking member <NUM> maintain the above-described thicknesses t1 and t3, respectively, but the single-etched regions <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> (see <FIG>) and the multi-etched regions <NUM> and <NUM> (see <FIG>) that are not covered by the masking member <NUM> but exposed have reduced thicknesses. According to the invention, the exposed portion of the first substrate member 200b has a fourth thickness t4 smaller than the third thickness t3, and the exposed portion of the second substrate member 300b has a second thickness t2 smaller than the first thickness t1.

Subsequently, referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, second masking is performed.

The second masking operation includes an operation of masking the second surfaces of regions that are to form the single-etched regions <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> (see <FIG>) of the first substrate member 200b and the second substrate member 300b. Like the above-described masking operation, the second masking may be performed using the masking member 600a. The masking member 600a used for the second masking may have substantially the same material and function as the masking member used for the first masking.

In the second masking operation, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the length of the masking member 600a covering the second substrate member 300b in the first direction DR1 is the same as the length of the masking member 600b covering the first substrate member 200b in the first direction DR1. Likewise, the length of the masking member 600a covering the second substrate member 300b in the second direction DR2 is the same as the length of the masking member 600b covering the first substrate member 200b in the second direction DR2.

In the second masking operation, the masking member <NUM> used in the first masking covers the non-etched regions <NUM> and <NUM> (see <FIG> and <FIG>) as it is.

Subsequently, referring to <FIG>, the second surface of the first substrate member 200b and the second surface of the second substrate member 300b are second etched.

In the second etching operation, the masking members <NUM> and 600a cover portions that are to form the non-etched regions <NUM> and <NUM> (see <FIG> and <FIG>) and the single-etched regions <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> (see <FIG>) and expose the multi-etched regions <NUM> and <NUM> (see <FIG>). Thus, the exposed multi-etched regions <NUM> and <NUM> (see <FIG>) are second etched by etchant.

As a result, in the first substrate member 200c and the second substrate member 300c, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the non-etched regions <NUM> and <NUM> (see <FIG> and <FIG>) covered by the masking member <NUM> formed in the first masking operation S2 maintain the above-described thicknesses t1 and t3, respectively, and the single-etched regions <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> (see <FIG>) covered by the masking member 600a formed in the second masking operation maintain the above-described thicknesses t2 and t4. However, the multi-etched regions <NUM> and <NUM> (see <FIG>) that are not covered by the masking members <NUM> and 600a but exposed have reduced thicknesses. According to the invention, the exposed portion of the first substrate member 200c has a sixth thickness t6 smaller than the fourth thickness t4, and the exposed portion of the second substrate member 300c has a fifth thickness t5 smaller than the second thickness t2.

With the fabrication method of the display device according to this embodiment, by asymmetrically forming the masking member <NUM> on the substrate members <NUM> and <NUM> in the first masking operation S2, it is possible to asymmetrically form the non-etched regions <NUM> and <NUM> (see <FIG> and <FIG>) of the substrate members <NUM> and <NUM>. That is, the non-etched regions <NUM> and <NUM> (see <FIG> and <FIG>) of the substrate members <NUM> and <NUM> are arranged so as not to overlap each other in the thickness direction. Thus, as described above, by making the thickness of the protruding region of the curved display device uniform as a whole, it is possible to prevent physical damage or cracks in some regions because stress due to a curved surface or bending is not different for each region even if the first substrate <NUM> and the second substrate <NUM> have a curved shape.

Claim 1:
A display device comprising:
a first substrate (<NUM>); and
a second substrate (<NUM>) including one surface (301b) opposite to one surface (201b) of the first substrate (<NUM>),
wherein
the first substrate (<NUM>) comprises a first-one portion (<NUM>, <NUM>) that overlaps the second substrate (<NUM>) in a thickness direction and a first-two portion (<NUM>) that does not overlap the second substrate (<NUM>),
the second substrate (<NUM>) comprises a second portion (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) that overlaps the first substrate (<NUM>) in the thickness direction,
the first-two portion (<NUM>) has a greater thickness than the first-one portion (<NUM>, <NUM>),
the second portion (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) comprises a second-one portion (<NUM>, <NUM>) that overlaps the first-one portion (<NUM>, <NUM>) in the thickness direction and a second-two portion (<NUM>) disposed between the second-one portion (<NUM>, <NUM>) and the first-two portion (<NUM>) in a plan view,
the second-two portion (<NUM>) has a greater thickness than the second-one portion (<NUM>, <NUM>),
the second-two portion (<NUM>) is disposed so as not to overlap the first-two portion (<NUM>) in the thickness direction, and
wherein the first-one portion (<NUM>, <NUM>) comprises a first-one-one portion (<NUM>) and a first-one-two portion (<NUM>) disposed between the first-one-one portion (<NUM>) and the first-two portion (<NUM>), and the first-one-one portion (<NUM>) has a greater thickness than the first-one-two portion (<NUM>), and. wherein the second-one portion (<NUM>, <NUM>) comprises a second-one-one portion (<NUM>) disposed to overlap the first-one-one portion (<NUM>) in the thickness direction and a second-one-two portion (<NUM>) disposed to overlap the first-one-two portion (<NUM>) in the thickness direction, and the second-one-one portion (<NUM>) has a greater thickness than the second-one-two portion (<NUM>), and characterized in that
the first-one-one portion (<NUM>) has a thickness (t4) smaller than the thickness (t3) of the first-two portion (<NUM>), and
the second-one-one portion (<NUM>) has a thickness (t2) smaller than the thickness (t1) of the second-two portion (<NUM>).