Force sensor preventing malfunction due to component interference and display device including the same

1. A display device, comprising:

a display panel including a first edge extended in a first direction; and

a first force sensor comprising a substrate and disposed adjacent to the first edge of the display panel and overlapping the display panel, wherein the first force sensor extends along the first edge of the display panel in the first direction,

wherein the first force sensor comprises a plurality of first sensing regions arranged in the first direction and a second sensing region adjacent to the first sensing regions in the first direction, the first sensing regions disposed closer to a first end of the first force sensor than the second sensing region, and the second sensing region disposed closer to a second end of the first force sensor than the first sensing regions,

wherein the first sensing regions are distinct from one another and are separated from one another by a plurality of first non-sensing regions in the first direction,

wherein a length of the second sensing region extending in the first direction is larger than a length of each of the first sensing regions extending in the first direction,

wherein the substrate of the first force sensor comprises an inwardly extending recess disposed at an inner side of the substrate of the first force sensor between an endmost first sensing region among the first sensing regions and the second sensing region in the first direction,

wherein the substrate of the first force sensor comprises a first outermost edge extended in the first direction and a second outermost edge extended in the first direction, and the inwardly extending recess extends inward from the first outermost edge of the substrate of the first force sensor toward the second outermost edge of the substrate of the first force sensor,

wherein the first force sensor comprises a first electrode disposed over the first sensing regions and the second sensing region and including a first stem electrode,

wherein the first stem electrode extends in the first direction in an area adjacent to the endmost first sensing region, is bent a first time in an area between the endmost first sensing region and the second sensing region to extend inward from the first outermost edge of the substrate of the first force sensor toward the second outermost edge of the substrate of the first force sensor in correspondence with the inwardly extending recess, is bent a second time in the area between the endmost first sensing region and the second sensing region to extend in the first direction in correspondence with the inwardly extending recess, is bent a third time in the area between the endmost first sensing region and the second sensing region to extend toward the first outermost edge of the substrate of the first force sensor in correspondence with the inwardly extending recess, and is bent a fourth time in the area between the endmost first sensing region and the second sensing region to extend in the first direction in an area adjacent to the second sensing region to bypass the inwardly extending recess and connect the first sensing regions to the second sensing region.

2. The display device of claim 1 , wherein the first force sensor further comprises a second electrode separated from the first electrode,

wherein the second electrode is disposed separately in each of the first and second sensing regions.

3. The display device of claim 2 , wherein the first force sensor further comprises a force sensing layer comprising a force sensitive material having a resistance that varies according to a force,

wherein the first electrode and the second electrode contact the force sensing layer.

4. The display device of claim 3 , wherein the first electrode further comprises a plurality of first branch electrodes branching from the first stem electrode, and the second electrode comprises a second stem electrode and a plurality of second branch electrodes branching from the second stem electrode,

wherein the first branch electrodes and the second branch electrodes are arranged alternately with each other.

5. The display device of claim 4 , wherein the first electrode is a driving electrode, and the second electrode is a sensing electrode.

6. The display device of claim 3 , wherein the force sensing layer is disposed separately in each of the first and second sensing regions.

7. The display device of claim 1 , wherein the length of the second sensing region is about 30% to about 50% of a total length of the first force sensor.

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

a second force sensor disposed adjacent to a second edge of the display panel and overlapping the display panel, wherein the second edge of the display panel faces the first edge of the display panel and the second force sensor extends along the second edge of the display panel,

wherein the second force sensor comprises a plurality of third sensing regions and a fourth sensing region, the third sensing regions disposed closer to a first end of the second force sensor than the fourth sensing region, and the fourth sensing region disposed closer to a second end of the second force sensor than the third sensing regions,

wherein the third sensing regions are distinct from one another and are separated from one another by a plurality of second non-sensing regions,

wherein the fourth sensing region has a larger area than each of the third sensing regions.

9. The display device of claim 8 , wherein the first sensing regions and the third sensing regions are pressing recognition regions, and the second sensing region and the fourth sensing region are squeezing recognition regions.

10. The display device of claim 9 , wherein the display panel includes

a flat portion,

a first curved portion connected to the flat portion, and

a second curved portion connected to the flat portion,

wherein the first curved portion is disposed at the first edge of the display panel, the second curved portion is disposed at the second edge of the display panel, the first force sensor overlaps the first curved portion of the display panel, and the second force sensor overlaps the second curved portion of the display panel.

11. The display device of claim 10 , wherein the first force sensor and the second force sensor are attached to a lower surface of the display panel.

12. The display device of claim 11 , further comprising:

a bracket that houses the display panel, the first force sensor, and the second force sensor,

wherein the first force sensor is attached to the bracket with a first waterproof tape, and the second force sensor is attached to the bracket with a second waterproof tape.

13. A display device, comprising:

a display panel including a first edge extended in a first direction; and

a first force sensor comprising a substrate and disposed adjacent to the first edge of the display panel and overlapping the display panel, wherein the first force sensor extends along the first edge of the display panel in the first direction, and the substrate of the first force sensor comprises an inwardly extending recess disposed at an inner side of the first force sensor,

wherein the substrate of the first force sensor comprises a first outermost edge extended in the first direction and a second outermost edge extended in the first direction, and the inwardly extending recess extends inward from the first outermost edge of the substrate of the first force sensor toward the second outermost edge of the substrate of the first force sensor,

wherein the first force sensor comprises a plurality of first sensing regions arranged in the first direction and a second sensing region adjacent to the first sensing regions in the first direction,

wherein the first sensing regions are distinct from one another and are separated from one another by a plurality of first non-sensing regions in the first direction,

wherein the inwardly extending recess is disposed between an endmost first sensing region among the first sensing regions and the second sensing region in the first direction, and

wherein a length of the second sensing region extending in the first direction is larger than a length of each of the first sensing regions extending in the first direction,

wherein the first force sensor comprises a first electrode disposed over the first sensing regions and the second sensing region and including a first stem electrode,

wherein the first stem electrode extends in the first direction in an area adjacent to the endmost first sensing region, is bent a first time in an area between the endmost first sensing region and the second sensing region to extend inward from the first outermost edge of the substrate of the first force sensor toward the second outermost edge of the substrate of the first force sensor in correspondence with the inwardly extending recess, is bent a second time in the area between the endmost first sensing region and the second sensing region to extend in the first direction in correspondence with the inwardly extending recess, is bent a third time in the area between the endmost first sensing region and the second sensing region to extend toward the first outermost edge of the substrate of the first force sensor in correspondence with the inwardly extending recess, and is bent a fourth time in the area between the endmost first sensing region and the second sensing region to extend in the first direction in an area adjacent to the second sensing region to bypass the inwardly extending recess and connect the first sensing regions to the second sensing region.

14. The display device of claim 13 , wherein the inwardly extending recess is notch-shaped.

15. The display device of claim 13 , wherein the first force sensor further comprises a second electrode separated from the first electrode,

wherein the second electrode is disposed separately in each of the first and second sensing regions.

16. The display device of claim 15 , wherein the first force sensor further comprises a force sensing layer comprising a force sensitive material having a resistance that varies according to a force,

wherein the first electrode and the second electrode contact the force sensing layer.

17. The display device of claim 16 , wherein the first electrode further comprises a plurality of first branch electrodes branching from the first stem electrode, and the second electrode comprises a second stem electrode and a plurality of second branch electrodes branching from the second stem electrode,

wherein the first branch electrodes and the second branch electrodes are arranged alternately with each other.

18. The display device of claim 17 , wherein the first electrode is a driving electrode, and the second electrode is a sensing electrode.

19. The display device of claim 16 , wherein the force sensing layer is disposed separately in each of the first and second sensing regions.

20. The display device of claim 13 , wherein the length of the second sensing region is about 30% to about 50% of a total length of the first force sensor.

21. The display device of claim 13 , wherein each first sensing region of the first force sensor is a pressing recognition region, and the second sensing region of the first force sensor is a squeezing recognition region.

22. The display device of claim 13 , wherein the first electrode is formed as a single piece along a direction in which the first force sensor extends, and the first force sensor further comprises a second electrode formed as a single piece along the direction in which the first force sensor extends,

wherein the second electrode is separated from the first electrode.

23. The display device of claim 22 , further comprising:

a touch member disposed on the display panel, wherein the touch member comprises a touch electrode overlapping the first force sensor.

24. The display device of claim 13 , further comprising:

a bracket that houses the display panel and the first force sensor,

wherein the bracket comprises a connect hole through which a connector passes, and the inwardly extending recess bypasses the connect hole in an outward direction.

25. The display device of claim 13 , further comprising:

a second force sensor disposed adjacent to a second edge of the display panel that faces the first edge of the display panel.

26. The display device of claim 25 , wherein the second force sensor does not comprise the inwardly extending recess disposed in the first force sensor or any other recess.

27. The display device of claim 25 , wherein the second force sensor comprises a plurality of third sensing regions disposed between a first end of the second force sensor and a second end of the second force sensor, and a fourth sensing region disposed closer to the second end of the second force sensor than the third sensing regions,

wherein the third sensing regions are distinct from one another and are separated from one another by a plurality of second non-sensing regions,

wherein the fourth sensing region has a wider area than each of the third sensing regions.

28. A force sensor, comprising:

a first substrate comprising an inwardly extending recess;

a first outermost edge of the first substrate extended in a first direction;

a second outermost edge of the first substrate extended in the first direction,

wherein the inwardly extending recess is disposed at the first outermost edge of the first substrate of the force sensor, and the inwardly extending recess extends inward from the first outermost edge of the first substrate of the force sensor toward the second outermost edge of the first substrate of the force sensor;

a plurality of first sensing regions that sense a first force and are arranged in the first direction;

a second sensing region that senses a second force and is adjacent to the first sensing regions in the first direction,

wherein the first sensing regions are distinct from one another and are separated from one another by a plurality of non-sensing regions in the first direction,

wherein the inwardly extending recess is disposed between an endmost first sensing region among the first sensing regions and the second sensing region in the first direction,

wherein a length of the second sensing region extending in the first direction is larger than a length of each of the first sensing regions extending in the first direction; and

a first electrode disposed over the first sensing regions and the second sensing region and including a first stem electrode,

wherein the first stem electrode extends in the first direction in an area adjacent to the endmost first sensing region, is bent a first time in an area between the endmost first sensing region and the second sensing region to extend inward from the first outermost edge of the substrate of the first force sensor toward the second outermost edge of the substrate of the first force sensor in correspondence with the inwardly extending recess, is bent a second time in the area between the endmost first sensing region and the second sensing region to extend in the first direction in correspondence with the inwardly extending recess, is bent a third time in the area between the endmost first sensing region and the second sensing region to extend toward the first outermost edge of the substrate of the first force sensor in correspondence with the inwardly extending recess, and is bent a fourth time in the area between the endmost first sensing region and the second sensing region to extend in the first direction in an area adjacent to the second sensing region to bypass the inwardly extending recess and connect the first sensing regions to the second sensing region.

29. The force sensor of claim 28 , further comprising:

a second substrate that faces the first substrate and comprises a force sensing layer,

wherein the first substrate comprises an electrode layer.

30. The force sensor of claim 29 , wherein the electrode layer comprises the first electrode and a second electrode separated from the first electrode,

wherein the second electrode is disposed separately in each of the first and second sensing regions.

31. The force sensor of claim 30 , wherein the first electrode is a driving electrode, and the second electrode is a sensing electrode.

32. The force sensor of claim 31 , wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are comb-shaped and engaged with each other.

33. The force sensor of claim 30 , wherein the force sensing layer comprises a force sensitive material having a resistance that varies according to a force,

wherein the first electrode and the second electrode contact the force sensing layer.

34. The force sensor of claim 33 , wherein the force sensing layer is disposed separately in each of the first and second sensing regions.

35. The force sensor of claim 29 , further comprising:

a bonding layer disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate along edges of the first substrate and the second substrate,

wherein the bonding layer bonds the first substrate and the second substrate together and seals an internal space.

36. The force sensor of claim 28 , wherein the length of the second sensing region is about 30% to about 50% of a total length of the force sensor.