Flexible display device and method of manufacturing window member for the same

1. A flexible display device comprising:

a display panel configured to generate an image; and

a window member on the display panel, the window member comprising:

a base film; and

a polymer layer comprising a first part and a plurality of second parts having lower hardness than the first part,

wherein a width of each of the second parts is smaller than a width of the first part at a bending area.

2. The flexible display device of claim 1 , wherein the polymer layer comprises a cross-linkable polymer.

3. A flexible display device comprising:

a display panel configured to generate an image; and

a window member on the display panel, the window member comprising:

a base film; and

a polymer layer comprising a first part and a plurality of second parts having lower hardness than the first part,

wherein the polymer layer comprises a cross-linkable polymer, and

wherein the cross-linkable polymer comprises polystyrene.

4. The flexible display device of claim 1 , further comprising a touch panel between the display panel and the window member.

5. The flexible display device of claim 4 , further comprising a optically clear adhesive member bonding at least one of the display panel or the touch panel to the window member.

6. The flexible display device of claim 5 , wherein the base film is on the optically clear adhesive member and the polymer layer is on the base film.

7. The flexible display device of claim 6 , wherein the window member further comprises at least one of a self-healing layer, an anti-reflection layer, and an anti-finger layer on the base film.

8. The flexible display device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of second parts are spaced from each other on a plane parallel the display panel and surrounded by the first part.

9. The flexible display device of claim 8 , wherein the flexible display device comprises a foldable region, and a first non-foldable region and a second non-foldable region which are adjacent to the foldable region, and wherein the plurality of second parts are disposed on the foldable region.

10. The flexible display device of claim 8 , wherein the flexible display device is configured to be rolled as a whole, and

wherein the plurality of second parts are arranged at a uniform interval inside the first part.

11. A method of manufacturing a window member for a flexible display device, the method comprising:

providing a base film;

forming a cross-linkable polymer layer on the base film; and

partially irradiating the cross-linkable polymer layer with a high energy ion-beam to form a polymer layer comprising a first part and a plurality of second parts having lower hardness than the first part,

wherein a width of each of the second parts is smaller than a width of the first part at a bending area.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the cross-linkable polymer layer comprises polystyrene.

13. The method of claim 11 , further comprising forming at least one of an anti-finger layer, a self-healing layer, and an anti-reflection layer on the polymer layer.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of second parts are spaced from each other on a plane parallel to the base film and surrounded by the first parts.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of second parts are arranged at a uniform interval.

16. The method of claim 11 ; wherein the cross-linkable polymer layer comprises a foldable region, a first non-foldable region, and a second non-foldable region, the first and second non-foldable regions being adjacent the foldable region, and

wherein, in the irradiating of the cross-linkable polymer layer with a high energy ion-beam, some portion of the foldable region is irradiated while other portions are not irradiated, and the first and second non-foldable regions are irradiated with the high energy ion-beam.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising arranging a mask on the cross-linkable polymer layer before irradiating of the cross-linkable polymer layer with the high energy ion-beam, wherein the mask comprises a first opening corresponding to a portion of the foldable region, and a second opening and a third opening corresponding to the first and second non-foldable regions, respectively.

18. The flexible display device of claim 1 , wherein the first part has a larger surface area than that of the plurality of second parts.

19. The flexible display device of claim 1 , wherein the first part has a greater crosslink number density than that of the plurality of second parts.