IP Library Granted Patent US 10,374,023
Granted Patent B2
US 10,374,023 · App. 15/798,896 · Granted Aug 6, 2019

Flexible display device

Inventors: Yasukazu Kimura (Tokyo, JP); Takuma Nishinohara (Tokyo, JP); Toshihiko Itoga (Tokyo, JP); Hajime Akimoto (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: Japan Display Inc.
H01L27/3258H01L27/3248H01L27/3262H01L27/3265H01L27/3276H01L51/0097H01L51/529H01L27/1214H01L29/78618H01L2251/5338Y02E10/549
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,374,023
App. No.
15/798,896
Granted
Aug 6, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A display device includes: a flexible substrate; a pixel over the flexible substrate, the pixel including a transistor and a display element; a first wiring for transmitting a signal to the pixel, the first wiring extending in a first direction; a second wiring extending in a second direction intersecting the first direction; an inorganic insulating layer on a higher level than the first wiring or the second wiring; and an organic insulating layer on a higher level than the inorganic insulating layer, wherein the inorganic insulating layer has an opening exposing a part of the upper surface of the first wiring or the second wiring is exposed, and the organic insulating layer is provided in such a way as to fill the opening.

Claims (162)

1. A flexible display device comprising:

a first flexible substrate; and

a plurality of pixels above the first flexible substrate, each of the plurality of pixels includes:

a first inorganic material layer over the first flexible substrate;

a first inorganic insulation layer over the first inorganic material layer;

a first organic insulation layer over the first inorganic insulation layer; and

an organic light emitting element over the first organic insulation layer,

wherein

the plurality of pixels are arranged in a matrix over the first flexile substrate,

the first inorganic insulation layer has a first opening exposing a part of a top surface of the first inorganic material layer in each of the plurality of pixels,

a first part of the first organic insulation layer is buried in the first opening in each of the pixels, and

the first part of the first organic insulation layer is in contact with the part of the top surface of the first inorganic material layer in the first opening.

2. The flexible display device according to claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of pixels include a first transistor and a first metal layer between the first inorganic insulation layer and the first organic insulation layer,

wherein

the first inorganic material layer is a first semiconductor layer that includes a semiconductor wiring region,

the first opening is arranged directly above the semiconductor wiring region, and

the first transistor includes a portion of the first semiconductor layer outside the first opening, a portion of the first inorganic insulation layer directly above the portion of the first semiconductor layer and a portion of the first metal layer directly above the portion of the first semiconductor layer.

3. The flexible display device according to claim 2 , further comprising:

a second inorganic insulation layer between the first inorganic insulation layer and the first organic insulation layer;

a plurality of data signal lines extending in a first direction and arranged in a second direction differing from the first direction; and

a plurality of gate signal lines extending in the second direction and arranged in the first direction,

wherein

each of the plurality of pixels is arranged between corresponding two of the date signal lines and corresponding two of the gate signal lines,

the data signal lines and the gate signal lines are arranged between the second inorganic insulation layer and the first inorganic insulation layer,

the second inorganic insulation layer has a second opening, the second opening is arranged directly above each of the date signal lines and extending in the first direction,

the second inorganic insulation layer has a third opening, the third opening is arranged directly above each of the plurality of gate signal lines and extending in the second direction,

a second part of the first organic insulation layer is buried in the second opening,

a third part of the first organic insulation layer is buried in the third opening,

the second part of the first organic insulation layer is connected to a part of a top surface of each of the plurality of data signal lines in the second opening, and

the third part of the first organic insulation layer is connected to a part of a top surface of each of the plurality of gate signal lines in the third opening.

4. The flexible display device according to claim 3 , further comprising:

a plurality of first metal lines directly below the plurality of data signal lines; and

a third inorganic insulation layer between the second inorganic insulation layer and the first inorganic insulation layer,

wherein

the plurality of data signal lines are arranged between the second inorganic insulation layer and the third inorganic insulation layer,

the plurality of gate signal lines are arranged between the third inorganic insulation layer and the first inorganic insulation layer,

the third inorganic insulation layer has a fourth opening, the fourth opening is arranged directly above each of the plurality of first metal lines and extending in the first direction,

a part of each of the plurality of data signal lines is buried in the fourth opening and is connected to the each of the first metal lines.

5. The flexible display device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a second inorganic insulation layer between the first inorganic insulation layer and the first organic insulation layer;

a plurality of data signal lines extending in a first direction and arranged in a second direction differing from the first direction; and

a plurality of gate signal lines extending in the second direction and arranged in the first direction,

wherein

each of the plurality of pixels is arranged between corresponding two of the date signal lines and corresponding two of the gate signal lines,

the plurality of data signal lines and the plurality of gate signal lines are arranged between the second inorganic insulation layer and the first inorganic insulation layer,

the second inorganic insulation layer has a second opening, the second opening is arranged directly above each of the plurality of date signal lines and extending in the first direction,

the second inorganic insulation layer has a third opening, the third opening is arranged directly above each of the plurality of gate signal lines and extending in the second direction,

a second part of the first organic insulation layer is buried in the second opening,

a third part of the first organic insulation layer is buried in the third opening,

the second part of the first organic insulation layer is connected to a part of a top surface of each of the plurality of data signal lines in the second opening, and

the third part of the first organic insulation layer is connected to a part of a top surface of each of the plurality of gate signal lines in the third opening.

6. The flexible display device according to claim 5 , further comprising:

a plurality of first metal lines directly below the data signal lines; and

a third inorganic insulation layer between the second inorganic insulation layer and the first inorganic insulation layer,

wherein

the plurality of data signal lines are arranged between the second inorganic insulation layer and the third inorganic insulation layer,

the plurality of gate signal lines are arranged between the third inorganic insulation layer and the first inorganic insulation layer,

the third inorganic insulation layer has a fourth opening, the fourth opening is arranged directly above each of the plurality of first metal lines and extending in the first direction, and

a part of each of the plurality of data signal lines is buried in the fourth opening and is connected to the each of the plurality of first metal lines.

7. The flexible display device according to claim 4 , further comprising:

a second flexible substrate on the organic light emitting element;

a first protection film under the first flexible substrate; and

a second protection film on the second flexible substrate, wherein

the first protection film includes a plurality of first grooves,

the second protection film includes a plurality of second grooves,

the first grooves extend in the second direction and are arranged in the first direction, and

the second grooves extend in the second direction and are arranged in the first direction.

8. The flexible display device according to claim 7 , wherein

the first flexible substrate includes a first organic portion, a first inorganic portion on the first organic portion, and a second organic portion on the first inorganic portion, and

the second flexible substrate includes a third organic portion, a second inorganic portion on the third organic portion, and a fourth organic portion on the second inorganic portion,

wherein

the first organic portion includes a plurality of third grooves,

the fourth organic portion includes a plurality of fourth grooves,

the third grooves extend in the second direction and are arranged in the first direction, and

the fourth grooves extend in the second direction and are arranged in the first direction.

9. A flexible display device comprising:

a first flexible substrate; and

a plurality of pixels above the first flexible substrate, each of the plurality of pixels includes:

a first semiconductor layer over the first flexible substrate;

a first inorganic insulation layer over the first semiconductor;

a first metal layer over the first inorganic insulation layer;

a first organic insulation layer over the first inorganic insulation layer and the first metal layer; and

an organic light emitting element over the first organic insulation layer,

wherein

the plurality of pixels are arranged in a matrix over the first flexile substrate,

the first inorganic insulation layer has a first opening exposing a part of a top surface of the first semiconductor in each of the plurality of pixels,

a part of the first metal layer is buried in the first opening,

a whole top surface of the first metal layer is in contact with the first organic insulation layer, and

the first metal layer is not in contact with any conductive material layer except for the first semiconductor layer.

10. The flexible display device according to claim 9 , wherein each of the plurality of pixels include a first transistor,

wherein

the first semiconductor layer includes a semiconductor wiring region,

the first opening is arranged directly above the semiconductor wiring region,

each of the plurality of pixels includes a second metal layer between the first inorganic insulation layer and the first organic insulation layer, and

the first transistor includes a portion of the first semiconductor layer outside the first opening, a portion of the first inorganic insulation layer directly above the portion of the first semiconductor layer, and a portion of the second metal layer directly above the portion of the first semiconductor layer.

11. The flexible display device according to claim 10 , further comprising:

a second inorganic insulation layer between the first inorganic insulation layer and the first organic insulation layer;

a plurality of first signal lines extending in a first direction and arranged in a second direction differing from the first direction; and

a plurality of second signal lines extending in the second direction and arranged in the first direction,

wherein

each of the plurality of pixels is arranged between corresponding two of the first signal lines and corresponding two of the second signal lines,

the plurality of first signal lines and the plurality of second signal lines are arranged between the second inorganic insulation layer and the first inorganic insulation layer,

the second inorganic insulation layer includes a second opening, the second opening is arranged directly above each of the plurality of first signal lines and extending in the first direction,

a second part of the first organic insulation layer is buried in the second opening, and

the second part of the first organic insulation layer is in contact with a part of a top surface of each of the first signal lines in the second opening.

12. The flexible display device according to claim 9 , wherein each of the plurality of pixels include a first transistor,

wherein

the first semiconductor layer includes a semiconductor wiring region,

the first opening is arranged directly above the semiconductor wiring region,

each of the plurality of pixels includes a second metal layer between the first inorganic insulation layer and the first organic insulation layer, and

the first transistor includes a portion of the first semiconductor layer outside the first opening, a portion of the first inorganic insulation layer directly above the portion of the first semiconductor layer, and a portion of the second metal layer directly above the portion of the first semiconductor layer.

13. The flexible display device according to claim 9 , further comprising:

a second inorganic insulation layer between the first inorganic insulation layer and the first organic insulation layer;

a plurality of first signal lines extending in a first direction and arranged in a second direction differing from the first direction; and

a plurality of second signal lines extending in the second direction and arranged in the first direction,

wherein

each of the plurality of pixels is arranged between corresponding two of the first signal lines and corresponding two of the second signal lines,

the plurality of first signal lines and the plurality of second signal lines are arranged between the second inorganic insulation layer and the first inorganic insulation layer,

the second inorganic insulation layer includes a second opening, the second opening is arranged directly above each of the first signal lines and extending in the first direction,

a second part of the first organic insulation layer is buried in the second opening,

the second part of the first organic insulation layer is in contact with a part of a top surface of each of the first signal lines in the second opening.

14. The flexible display device according to claim 13 , further comprising:

a plurality of first metal lines extending in the first direction and arranged in the second direction; and

a third inorganic insulation layer between the second inorganic insulation layer and the first inorganic insulation layer,

wherein

the plurality of first signal lines are arranged between the second inorganic insulation layer and the third inorganic insulation layer,

the third inorganic insulation layer includes a third opening, the third opening is arranged directly below each of the plurality of first signal lines and extending in the first direction, and

a part of each of the first metal lines is buried in the third opening and is connected to the each of the first metal lines.

15. The flexible display device according to claim 11 , further comprising:

a second flexible substrate over the organic light emitting element;

a first protection film under the first flexible substrate; and

a second protection film over the second flexible substrate,

wherein

the first protection film includes a first groove,

the second protection film includes a second groove,

the first groove extends in the first direction, and

the second groove extends in the first direction.

16. The flexible display device according to claim 15 , wherein

the first flexible substrate includes a first organic portion, a first inorganic portion on the first organic portion, and a second organic portion on the first inorganic portion, and

the second flexible substrate includes a third organic portion, a second inorganic portion on the third organic portion, and a fourth organic portion on the second inorganic portion,

wherein

the first organic portion includes a third groove,

the fourth organic portion includes a fourth groove,

the third groove extends in the first direction, and

the fourth groove extends in the first direction.

17. The flexible display device according to claim 13 , further comprising:

a second flexible substrate over the organic light emitting element;

a first protection film under the first flexible substrate; and

a second protection film over the second flexible substrate,

wherein

the first protection film includes a first groove,

the second protection film includes a second groove,

the first groove extends in the first direction, and

the second groove extends in the first direction.

18. The flexible display device according to claim 17 , wherein

the first flexible substrate includes a first organic portion, a first inorganic portion on the first organic portion, and a second organic portion on the first inorganic portion, and

the second flexible substrate includes a third organic portion, a second inorganic portion on the third organic portion, and a fourth organic portion on the second inorganic portion,

wherein

the first organic portion includes a third groove,

the fourth organic portion includes a fourth groove,

the third groove extends in the first direction, and

the fourth groove extends in the first direction.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 22, 2025
From: JAPAN DISPLAY INC.
To: MAGNOLIA WHITE CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 072130/0313 →
Priority Claims (2)
JP 2015-248687 · Dec 21, 2015 · national
JP 2016-020546 · Feb 5, 2016 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation 15373533 · Dec 9, 2016
Related Publication 20180069066A1 · Mar 8, 2018
Cited By (1)
US 12,645,260