Window panel for a display apparatus
A window panel includes a first rigid part including a rigid material, a second rigid part including the rigid material, and a base substrate interposed between the first and second rigid parts and including a folding part configured to be folded by an external force. The folding part includes a first area and a second area, which are alternately arranged on a plane surface of the base substrate substantially perpendicular to a thickness direction of the base substrate. The first area includes the rigid material, and at least a portion of the second area includes a soft material. Thus, the rigidity of the window panel is maintained by the rigid material and the flexibility of the window panel is improved by the soft material.
1. A window panel comprising:
at least one base substrate comprising:
a first rigid part that includes a rigid material,
a second rigid part that includes the rigid material; and
a folding part interposed between the first and second rigid parts and configured to be folded by an external force,
wherein the folding part comprises:
a first area comprising the rigid material, and
a second area, wherein at least a portion of the second area comprises a material softer than the rigid material
wherein the first and second areas are alternately arranged on a plane surface of the folding part substantially perpendicular to a thickness direction of the base substrate.
2. The window panel of claim 1 , wherein the first and second rigid parts are arranged in a first direction, and the first and second areas are extended in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction and alternately arranged in the first direction.
3. The window panel of claim 2 , wherein the folding part comprises a hole formed through the base substrate corresponding to the second area wherein the hole is filled with the soft material.
4. The window panel of claim 2 , wherein the folding part comprises a recess formed by partially recessing the base substrate corresponding to the second area and wherein the recess is filled with the soft material.
5. The window panel of claim 1 , further comprising at least one soft layer disposed on the base substrate and comprising the soft material.
6. The window panel of claim 5 , wherein the at least one base substrate and the at least one soft layer are alternately stacked.
7. The window panel of claim 6 , further comprising a flexible cover film disposed on the soft layer, wherein the flexible cover film has a rigidity greater than a rigidity of the soft layer.
8. The window panel of claim 1 , wherein the soft material comprises a silica ball.
9. The window panel of claim 1 , wherein the soft material has a refractive index substantially similar to a refractive index of the rigid material.
10. The window panel of claim 1 , wherein the soft material comprises a polymer resin.
11. The window panel of claim 1 , wherein the rigid material comprises a glass or a rigid resin film.
12. A display apparatus comprising:
a display panel that displays an image; and
a window panel disposed on the display panel to protect the display panel, the window panel comprising:
a base substrate comprising a first rigid part including a rigid material, a second rigid part including the rigid material, and a folding part interposed between the first and second rigid parts and configured to be folded by an external force, wherein the folding part comprises a first area and a second area alternately arranged on a plane surface of the folding part substantially perpendicular to a thickness direction of the base substrate, the first area comprising the rigid material, and at least a portion of the second area comprising a soft material.
13. The display apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the first and second rigid parts are arranged in a first direction, the first and second areas are extended in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction and alternately arranged in the first direction.
14. The display apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the folding part comprises a hole formed through the base substrate corresponding to the second area and wherein the hole is filled with the soft material.
15. The display apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the folding part comprises a recess formed by partially recessing the base substrate corresponding to the second area and wherein the recess is filled with the soft material.
16. A method of manufacturing a window panel, comprising:
disposing a base substrate comprising a rigid material and a mother substrate, the base substrate comprising a first rigid part, a second rigid part, and a folding part disposed between the first and second rigid parts and configured to be folded by an external force;
etching at least a portion of the base substrate in a second area on a plane surface substantially perpendicular to a thickness direction of the base substrate;
filling the etched at least portion of the second area with a soft material having a flexibility; and
separating the mother substrate from the base substrate.
17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising distributing silica balls in the soft material.
18. The method of claim 16 , further comprising providing the soft material on the base substrate to form a soft layer on the base substrate.
19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising forming a cover film on the soft layer, wherein the cover film has a flexibility and a rigidity greater than a rigidity of the soft material.