IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,662,615
Granted Patent B2
US 11,662,615 · App. 17/878,986 · Granted May 30, 2023

Display device and manufacturing method thereof

Inventor: Yoshiharu Hirakata (Ebina, JP)
Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
G02F1/133308G02F1/133305G06F1/1641G06F1/1652H04M1/0268H05K1/0281H05K2201/10128
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,662,615
App. No.
17/878,986
Granted
May 30, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A novel foldable display device or an electronic device using the same, e.g., a portable information processor or a portable communication information device, is provided. A foldable display device of which a display panel can be folded n times (n≥1, and n is a natural number) at a curvature radius of greater than or equal to 1 mm and less than or equal to 100 mm is obtained. The display device can be miniaturized by being foldable. In addition, in the state where the flexible display panel is opened, display which is unbroken and continuous over a plurality of housings is possible. The plurality of housings can store a circuit, an electronic component, a battery and the like inside as appropriate, and the thickness of each housing can be small.

Claims (67)

1. An electronic device comprising:

a foldable display panel which folds with surfaces of a display surface facing inward;

a first flexible substrate provided on a rear side of the foldable display panel;

a first housing;

a second housing;

a circuit stored in the first housing;

a battery unit stored in the second housing;

a first frame member and a second frame member provided on a display surface side of the foldable display panel; and

a second flexible substrate provided on the display surface side of the foldable display panel,

wherein a first region of the foldable display panel overlaps with the first housing with the first flexible substrate interposed therebetween,

wherein a second region of the foldable display panel overlaps with the second housing with the first flexible substrate interposed therebetween,

wherein the foldable display panel overlaps with the circuit and the battery unit,

wherein when the electronic device is opened, the first frame member is provided apart from the second frame member and is not in contact with the second frame member,

wherein when the electronic device is opened, the first frame member, the second frame member, and a region between the first frame member and the second frame member overlap with the second flexible substrate,

wherein when the electronic device is opened, the second flexible substrate includes an opening overlapping with the foldable display panel, and

wherein when the foldable display panel is folded, the first housing and the second housing overlap with each other.

2. The electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the first flexible substrate is configured to connect the first housing with the second housing.

3. The electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the foldable display panel is configured to display a touchscreen and an image operated with the touchscreen.

4. An electronic device comprising:

a foldable display panel which folds with surfaces of a display surface facing inward;

a first flexible substrate provided on a rear side of the foldable display panel;

a first housing;

a second housing;

a circuit stored in the first housing;

a battery unit stored in the second housing;

a first frame member and a second frame member provided on a display surface side of the foldable display panel;

a second flexible substrate provided on the display surface side of the foldable display panel; and

an FPC for electrically connecting the circuit to the foldable display panel,

wherein a first region of the foldable display panel overlaps with the first housing with the first flexible substrate interposed therebetween,

wherein a second region of the foldable display panel overlaps with the second housing with the first flexible substrate interposed therebetween,

wherein the foldable display panel overlaps with the circuit and the battery unit,

wherein when the electronic device is opened, the first frame member is provided apart from the second frame member and is not in contact with the second frame member,

wherein when the electronic device is opened, the first frame member, the second frame member, and a region between the first frame member and the second frame member overlap with the second flexible substrate,

wherein when the electronic device is opened, the second flexible substrate includes an opening overlapping with the foldable display panel,

wherein when the electronic device is opened, the FPC is provided on a shorter side of the foldable display panel,

wherein the first frame member or the second frame member overlaps with the FPC; and

wherein when the foldable display panel is folded, the first housing and the second housing overlap with each other.

5. The electronic device according to claim 4 ,

wherein the circuit is electrically connected to a wiring on the foldable display panel,

wherein the foldable display panel includes a bend portion between the first region and the second region, and

wherein the wiring overlaps with the bend portion.

6. The electronic device according to claim 4 , wherein the first flexible substrate is configured to connect the first housing with the second housing.

7. The electronic device according to claim 4 , wherein the foldable display panel is configured to display a touchscreen and an image operated with the touchscreen.

8. An electronic device comprising:

a foldable display panel which folds with surfaces of a display surface facing inward;

a first flexible substrate provided on a rear side of the foldable display panel;

a first housing;

a second housing;

a circuit stored in the first housing;

a battery unit stored in the second housing;

a first frame member and a second frame member provided on a display surface side of the foldable display panel;

a second flexible substrate provided on the display surface side of the foldable display panel; and

an FPC for electrically connecting the circuit to the foldable display panel,

wherein a first region of the foldable display panel overlaps with the first housing with the first flexible substrate interposed therebetween,

wherein a second region of the foldable display panel overlaps with the second housing with the first flexible substrate interposed therebetween,

wherein the foldable display panel overlaps with the circuit and the battery unit,

wherein the second flexible substrate is configured to connect the first frame member with the second frame member, and

wherein when the foldable display panel is folded, the first housing and the second housing overlap with each other.

9. The electronic device according to claim 8 ,

wherein when the electronic device is opened, the FPC is provided on a shorter side of the foldable display panel, and

wherein the first frame member or the second frame member overlaps with the FPC.

10. The electronic device according to claim 8 ,

wherein the circuit is electrically connected to a wiring on the foldable display panel,

wherein the foldable display panel includes a bend portion between the first region and the second region, and

wherein the wiring overlaps with the bend portion.

11. The electronic device according to claim 8 , wherein the first flexible substrate is configured to connect the first housing with the second housing.

12. The electronic device according to claim 8 , wherein the foldable display panel is configured to display a touchscreen and an image operated with the touchscreen.

Priority Claims (1)
JP 2013-179069 · Aug 30, 2013 · national
Continuity (6)
Continuation 17370001 · Jul 8, 2021
Continuation 16831890 · Mar 27, 2020
Continuation 16199585 · Nov 26, 2018
Continuation 15441489 · Feb 24, 2017
Continuation 14468838 · Aug 26, 2014
Related Publication 20230019784A1 · Jan 19, 2023
Cited By (3)
US 12,271,241 US 12,335,424 US 12,641,171