Display device and method of fabricating the same

1 . A display device comprising:

a display panel comprising:

a surface where images are displayed; and

an opposite surface; and

a polymer film layer disposed on the opposite surface of the display panel and supporting the display panel,

wherein the polymer film layer comprises grooves partially penetrating the polymer film layer, extending in a horizontal direction, and recessed toward the display panel in a vertical direction, and

wherein each groove has a vertically closed end portion, a vertically open end portion, a laterally closed end portion, and a laterally open end portion.

2 . The display device of claim 1 , wherein

the polymer film layer comprises:

sides extending in different horizontal directions; and

a corner connecting the sides, and

wherein the grooves are in the corner and extend in diagonal horizontal directions with respect to the sides,

wherein each groove extends from an outer edge portion of the corner toward an inner portion of the corner spaced apart from the outer edge portion,

wherein the laterally closed end portion of each groove is at the inner portion of the corner, and

wherein the laterally open end portion of each groove is at the outer edge portion of the corner.

3 . The display device of claim 2 , wherein the corner of the polymer film layer are aligned with an edge portion of the display panel in a thickness direction.

4 . The display device of claim 2 , wherein a distance between the laterally open end portions of adjacent grooves is greater than a distance between the laterally closed end portions of the adjacent grooves.

5 . The display device of claim 4 , wherein each of the grooves extends toward a center of curvature of the corner.

6 . The display device of claim 2 , wherein

the display panel comprises:

a main region including a display area;

a bending region extending from the main region; and

a subsidiary region extending from the bending region, and

the grooves are located at the corner that is located in the main region.

7 . The display device of claim 1 , wherein the polymer film layer comprises heat-resistant polyethylene terephthalate.

8 . The display device of claim 1 , wherein each of the grooves comprises a burr.

9 . The display device of claim 1 , further comprising:

an upper stack structure disposed on an upper surface of the display panel.

10 . The display device of claim 1 , wherein the display panel comprises:

a substrate;

a circuit driving layer on the substrate;

an emissive layer on the circuit driving layer; and

an encapsulation layer on the emissive layer.

11 . The display device of claim 1 , wherein the polymer film layer comprises:

sides extending in different horizontal directions; and

a corner having a curved outer edge portion and connecting the sides, and wherein the grooves comprise:

a first groove extending in a first horizontal direction in plan view and having a first laterally open end portion,

a second groove spaced apart from the first groove and extending in a second horizontal direction different from the first horizontal direction in plan view and having a second laterally open end portion, and

a third groove spaced apart from the first groove and the second groove, the third groove extending in a third horizontal direction different from the first horizontal direction and the second horizontal direction in plan view and having a third laterally open end portion, and

wherein the first, second, and third laterally open end portions are aligned along the curved outer edge portion of the corner.