Display device having an embedded shielding layer flexible substrate
A display device includes a flexible substrate, a buffer layer on the flexible substrate and including an inorganic material, a display area including a plurality of pixels on the buffer layer and each including a pixel circuit including a first thin film transistor (TFT), a second TFT, and a storage capacitor and a display device connected to the pixel circuit, and a non-display area that is adjacent to the display area. The flexible substrate includes at least one base layer, at least one inorganic barrier layer, and a shielding layer including a portion having a certain area and an opening adjacent to the portion.
1. A display device comprising:
a flexible substrate;
a buffer layer arranged on the flexible substrate and comprising an inorganic insulating material; and
a plurality of pixel circuits arranged on the buffer layer, and a plurality of display elements respectively electrically connected to the plurality of pixel circuits,
wherein the flexible substrate comprises at least one polymer layer, at least one inorganic barrier layer, and a shielding layer having conductivity, and
the shielding layer comprises a plurality of first areas corresponding to the plurality of pixel circuits in a plan view, respectively, and spaced apart from each other in a first direction and a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and a plurality of second areas connecting the plurality of first areas in at least one of the first direction and the second direction.
2. The display device of claim 1 , wherein
each of the plurality of pixel circuits comprises a driving thin-film transistor, a switching thin-film transistor, and a storage capacitor, and
the plurality of first areas overlap the driving thin-film transistors of the plurality of pixel circuits, respectively.
3. The display device of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of first areas overlap the storage capacitors of the plurality of pixel circuits, respectively.
4. The display device of claim 1 , wherein the shielding layer comprises an opening surrounded by the plurality of first areas and the plurality of second areas.
5. The display device of claim 4 , wherein the flexible substrate comprises:
a first polymer layer;
a second polymer layer on the first polymer layer;
an inorganic barrier layer between the first polymer layer and the second polymer layer; and
the shielding layer.
6. The display device of claim 5 , wherein
the first polymer layer comprises an upper surface that faces the inorganic barrier layer, and a lower surface opposite to the upper surface, and
the shielding layer is on at least one of the upper surface and the lower surface of the first polymer layer.
7. The display device of claim 6 , wherein
the shielding layer is between the first polymer layer and the inorganic barrier layer, and
the inorganic barrier layer and the first polymer layer directly contact each other via the opening of the shielding layer.
8. The display device of claim 5 , wherein
the second polymer layer comprises a lower surface that faces the inorganic barrier layer, and an upper surface opposite to the lower surface, and
the shielding layer is on at least one of the upper surface and the lower surface of the second polymer layer.
9. The display device of claim 8 , wherein
the shielding layer is between the first polymer layer and the inorganic barrier layer, and
the inorganic barrier layer and the second polymer layer directly contact each other via the opening of the shielding layer.
10. The display device of claim 1 , wherein the shielding layer comprises amorphous silicon doped with P-type or N-type impurities or hydrogenated amorphous silicon.
11. The display device of claim 1 , wherein the shielding layer comprises a transparent conductive material.
12. The display device of claim 1 , wherein the shielding layer further comprises an additional shielding portion that is on an edge of the flexible substrate and is connected to the plurality of second areas.