JP2010266777A - Folding-type display - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a folding-type display which can display moving images, including color images on a single wide screen. <P>SOLUTION: The folding-type display has FPD panels 1 and 2, which have flat image display surfaces and a transparent sheet 3, which is stuck to each image display screen, in a state where each of the end faces of the FPD panels 1 and 2 is struck to each other, and integrally fixes the FPD panels 1 and 2. The FPD panels 1 and 2 are constituted so as to open and close by using the transparent sheet at the end faces as an axis. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a foldable display in which flat panel displays (FPDs) are foldably joined to each other.

  In recent years, small-sized electronic terminals such as mobile phones, portable game machines, and electronic notebooks have been widely used, and the electronic terminals have been reduced in size and weight. However, in order to make it easy for the user to see the screens of those electronic terminals, it has been necessary to make the display size to some extent.

  Up to now, a large number of rigid liquid crystal displays (LCDs) and electronic paper displays have been commercialized in portable game machines and electronic notebooks. These commercialized rigid liquid crystal displays with two-page spreads have no image display section in the folded portion, and the two screens are displayed as separate display screens.

  As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the image display terminal proposed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-207389 is accommodated in two casings 21 and 21 in which a flexible display 22 is foldably connected. One screen is displayed on the flexible display 22 with the casings 21 and 21 being opened.

  The portable communication device described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-174506 also has a configuration in which a flexible display is housed in a housing group that is foldably connected in a lateral direction.

JP-A-10-207389, abstract, FIG. 12A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-174506, abstract, FIGS. 7 and 8

  The above-mentioned electronic paper spread is estimated to be practical when displaying a black-and-white still screen, but the contrast is reduced when colorizing with a color filter, and if it is compatible with video It is necessary to drastically improve the response speed, and it seems difficult to put it into practical use with color moving images.

  A rigid liquid crystal display with two spread screens cannot be displayed widely because the screen is cut off at the bent portion. Therefore, there is a problem that a wide screen cannot be displayed.

  In the present situation, organic EL (Electro-Luminescence) is used for the flexible display proposed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 10-207389 and 2006-174506. In this case, however, an organic TFT (Thin Film Transistor) is used. However, even if it is put to practical use, the rounded portion is repeatedly bent with a certain degree of curvature, so that repeated stress is applied and it cannot withstand long-term use. Furthermore, since the two casings are stacked, there is a problem that the casing becomes thick when not in use.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and the object of the present invention is to display a color moving image on one wide screen when it is opened and to fold the screen so that it can be folded. It is to provide a formula display.

In order to solve the above problems, the foldable display of the present invention has the configurations of 1) to 5).
1) A plurality of flat display units having a flat image display surface and affixed to each image display surface in a state where the end surfaces of the plurality of flat display units abut each other, and the plurality of flat display units are integrated and fixed. A folding display, comprising: a transparent sheet, wherein the plurality of flat display portions are configured to be openable and closable with a position corresponding to an end face of the transparent sheet as a folding portion.
2) The flat display unit includes a plurality of pixels formed in a matrix and a light shielding unit formed between the pixels, and an end surface is formed at a position corresponding to the light shielding unit. ) Folding display.
3) The folding display according to 1) or 2), wherein a surface opposite to the image display surface of the plurality of flat display portions is covered with a light shielding sheet.
4) The foldable display according to any one of 1) to 3), wherein a touch panel is disposed on a transparent sheet.
5) The foldable display according to any one of 1) to 4), wherein the plurality of flat display units are made of organic EL elements.

  According to the foldable display of the present invention, a color moving image can be displayed on a wide screen, and the folded thickness when not in use can be reduced.

FIG. 1A is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of a foldable display according to the present invention. FIG. 1A illustrates a state in which the FPD panel is opened, FIG. 1B illustrates a state in the middle of opening and closing of the FPD panel, and FIG. ) Shows the state in which the FPD panel is closed. It is sectional drawing which shows the example which comprises a foldable display with a bottom emission system FPD panel. It is sectional drawing which shows the foldable display which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view showing a foldable display according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view showing a foldable display according to the third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view showing an opened state of a foldable display according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5B shows a folded state of the foldable display according to the fourth embodiment. It is sectional drawing. It is sectional drawing which shows the foldable display which concerns on the 5th Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the example of the conventional foldable display. It is sectional drawing which shows the sealing method of the conventional organic EL panel.

Hereinafter, modes for carrying out the present invention will be described.
First, before describing the invention according to each embodiment of the present invention, an outline of the present invention and an organic EL display device used in the present invention will be described.

  A cross-sectional view of the basic configuration according to the first embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 1, the cross sections of the FPD panel 1 and the FPD panel 2 are rectangular, and as shown in FIG. 1A, the sides of the same length, which are the end faces of the FPD panel 1 and the FPD panel 2, correspond to each other. The transparent sheet 3 is adhered in a state where it is in contact. At this time, the short width of the contact portion between the FPD panel 1 and the FPD panel 2 is bonded so that the transparent sheet 3 is easily bent as shown in FIGS. 1B and 1C. Absent.

  The transparent sheet 3 is foldable, and a linear position corresponding to the end surfaces of the FPD panel 1 and the FPD panel 2 in the transparent sheet 3 is taken as a bent portion, as shown in FIGS. 1B and 1C. The FPD panel 1 and the FPD panel 2 can be folded around the bent portion. In the unused state, the FPD panel 1 and the FPD panel 2 are folded and overlapped.

  Since the FPD panel 1 and the FPD panel 2 are not housed in the casing and the transparent sheet 3 can be bent with a small curvature, it can be made thin when not in use. And a moving image can be widely displayed as one continuous screen including a junction part in the opened state shown to Fig.1 (a).

Next, an organic EL display device using a bottom emission type organic EL display element and a top emission type organic EL display element will be described.
FIG. 2 shows an organic EL display device using a bottom mission type organic EL display element. This organic EL display device has a glass substrate 9a (other insulating transparent substrate may be used but a glass substrate is preferable in terms of processing and transparency) and an anode 4 serving as a first electrode such as ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) which is a transparent electrode. The organic EL light emitting layer 6 and the cathode 5 serving as the second electrode such as a reflective metal are sequentially laminated.

  A laminated structure in which a large number of organic EL light emitting layers 6 are arranged in a matrix is sealed with a sealing resin described later, but the sealing resin is not shown in FIG. By applying an electric field between the anode 4 and the cathode 5, carriers (electrons and holes) are injected into the organic EL light emitting layer 6, and the organic EL light emitting layer 6 emits light.

  FIG. 3 shows an organic EL display device using a top emission type organic EL display element. The FPD panels 11 and 12 using the organic EL element shown in FIG. 3 have a glass substrate 9a and a second electrode such as an anode 4 serving as a first electrode such as a reflective metal plate, an organic EL light emitting layer 6 and a transparent electrode ITO. A cathode 5 serving as an electrode is sequentially laminated.

  A laminated structure in which a large number of organic EL light emitting layers 6 are arranged in a matrix is shielded from outside air by a sealing resin 7. The transparent sheet 3 is bonded to the FPD panels 11 and 12 and can be bent.

  The FPD panels 11 and 12 are organic EL display devices using top emission type organic EL display elements, and light is emitted through the cathode 5. Since the organic EL display device using the bottom emission type organic EL display element described with reference to FIG. 2 extracts light from the TFT substrate side, the use efficiency of EL emission becomes low. In addition, the organic EL display device using the bottom emission type organic EL display element uses the top emission type organic EL display element because the boundary is conspicuous as reflected by the boundary surface of the glass substrate 9a as shown in FIG. It is disadvantageous than the conventional organic EL display device. Note that the top emission type organic EL display device has an advantage that the drive circuit portion can also emit light.

  Although it is possible to obtain a foldable display having the effects of the present invention by adhering the transparent sheet 3 to the bottom emission type organic EL display device shown in FIG. 2, as described above, in the embodiment of the present invention, Since the organic EL display device using the top emission type organic EL display element is more advantageous than the organic EL display device using the bottom emission type organic EL display element, in the embodiment described below, the top emission type A case where an organic EL display device using an organic EL display element is used will be described.

Next, a sealing can and a sealing resin used for the organic EL display element will be described.
In the organic EL display element, it is known that the organic matter in the organic EL light emitting layer gradually deteriorates due to the influence of oxygen and moisture, and the luminance decreases. Therefore, the organic EL display element 17 and the external air are shut off by using a sealing can (sealing glass 19, 20 or sealing resin 7) shown in FIG.

The sealing can shown in FIG. 8A has an adhesive layer 18 that also functions as a spacer with the insulating substrate 9 on which the organic EL element 17 is disposed and the sealing glass 19 disposed to face the insulating substrate 9. The organic EL element 17 is bonded to the periphery (A).
When bonding with the adhesive layer 18, the space formed between the sealing glass 19 and the insulating substrate 9 is filled with an inert gas, and the organic EL element 17 can be prevented from being deteriorated.

The insulating substrate 9 on which the organic EL element 17 shown in FIG. 8B is disposed is covered with a concave portion of a sealing glass 20 having a concave portion, and is adhered to the organic EL element 17 at the peripheral portion (B). Yes.
The space formed between the sealing glass 20 and the insulating substrate 9 is filled with an inert gas, and deterioration of the organic EL element 17 can be prevented.

The sealing can shown in FIG. 8C has a configuration in which the organic EL element 17 and the insulating substrate 9 are directly sealed with the sealing resin 7 with respect to the insulating substrate 9 on which the organic EL element 17 is disposed. .
That is, in the configuration of FIG. 8C, the organic EL element 17 is covered with the sealing resin 7 and the insulating substrate 9 so that the organic EL element 17 is not in contact with oxygen or moisture, and the organic EL element 17 is deteriorated. Can be prevented.

  When the foldable display is configured using the organic EL display devices having the respective configurations shown in FIG. 8, in the case can shown in FIG. 8 (a) and FIG. 8 (b), the adhesive width A of the adhesive layer 18 and A configuration in which the seam between the FPD panel 1 and the FPD panel 2 is disposed at the positions of the adhesive width A and the adhesive width B in a state where the adhesive width B of the sealing glass 20 is sufficiently secured, and the adhesive width A and the adhesive width B are avoided. A configuration in which a joint between the FPD panel 1 and the FPD panel 2 is disposed at a predetermined position so that contact with oxygen or moisture is avoided even when the space formed between the sealing glasses 19 and 20 and the insulating substrate 9 is folded. There is.

However, in the configuration in which the seam is arranged in the adhesive width A and the adhesive width B, it is necessary to increase the adhesive widths A and B, and there is a possibility that the relative display area in the foldable display becomes narrow. Further, in the configuration in which the seam is arranged at a position avoiding the bonding width A and the bonding width B, the space between the sealing glasses 19 and 20 and the insulating substrate 9 may be broken during folding.
Therefore, in the following description, a configuration in which the organic EL element 17 is sealed with the sealing resin 7 in FIG.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the foldable display according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
In the foldable display shown in FIG. 3, organic EL elements are respectively formed on the FPD panel 11 and the FPD panel 12.
In the organic EL element, an anode 4 serving as a first electrode of a reflective metal, an organic EL light emitting layer 6, and a cathode 5 serving as a second electrode such as a transparent electrode ITO are sequentially laminated on an insulating glass substrate 9a. It is configured.

A large number of organic EL elements are arranged in a matrix on the FPD panel 11 and the FPD panel 12, and the insulating glass substrate 9a and the organic EL element are sealed with a sealing resin 7, Shielded from oxygen and humidity.
Further, the FPD panel 11 and the FPD panel 12 are folded with the flexible transparent sheet 3 adhered on the sealing resin 7 of the FPD panel 11 and the FPD panel 12 in a state in which the respective end faces are abutted against each other. It is possible.

  The organic EL elements formed on the FPD panel 11 and the FPD panel 12 are a top emission type, and light is emitted through the cathode 5.

  Since it is necessary for the sealing resin 7 to have refractive index matching with the transparent sheet 3, it is desirable to use a material having a refractive index close to the refractive index of the transparent sheet.

Moreover, in order to prevent the deterioration of the organic EL element due to the permeation of moisture, the transparent sheet 3 is desirably made of a material that hardly permeates moisture. For example, the sealing resin 7 having a moisture permeability of about 10 ⁻³ g / m ² · 24 hr or less is desirable.
Further, it is desirable that the transparent sheet 3 has a light transmittance of 80% or more without whitening after 5000 bending tests with a bending radius of about 1 m. In addition, in order to prevent external light reflection, an antireflection film having a nano-surface structure having a nano-sized structure smaller than the light wavelength on the surface may be provided.

A method for manufacturing the foldable display according to the first embodiment will be described below.
First, the organic EL element is formed in a matrix and the transparent sheet 3 is bonded to the FPD panel sealed with the sealing resin 7. Next, the FPD panel to which the transparent sheet 3 is bonded is cut with a dicing machine or the like used when cutting the wafer in the semiconductor manufacturing process, and is cut along the cut. The fracture surfaces of the FPD panel 11 and the FPD panel 12 divided into two are hardened with resin.

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 4A is a sectional view showing a foldable display according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
In FIG. 4A, the same members as those described in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

In this embodiment, a black matrix 8 which is a light shielding member having a light shielding property is provided between each element of the organic EL elements which are formed in a matrix and constitute each pixel.
The black matrix 8 shields gaps between the organic EL elements to increase the contrast, prevents light from entering the TFT portion, and prevents leakage current.
Moreover, the organic EL light emitting layer 6 of each organic EL element corresponds to R color, G color, and B color as shown in the figure, and enables color display.
In the foldable display having this configuration, the joint (joint) between the FPD panel 11 and the FPD panel 12 can be arranged at the position of the black matrix 8.

(Third embodiment)
FIG. 4B is a sectional view showing a foldable display according to the third embodiment of the present invention.
In FIG. 4B, the same members described in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

In this embodiment, a light-shielding cover 10 having elasticity is attached to the back surface of the foldable display of the second embodiment.
4B, when the FPD panel 11 and the FPD panel 12 are folded, the black matrix 8, which is a joint (seam) between the FPD panel 11 and the FPD panel 12, is separated. The light that has entered through the gap generated in is prevented from entering the TFT portion from the sealing resin.

  In this embodiment, the light shielding cover 10 is described as being configured to have elasticity in the pulling direction, but when the light shielding cover 10 is made of a non-shrinkable material and the FPD panel 11 and the FPD panel 12 are expanded, the FPD panel 11 Further, the light shielding cover 10 may be formed so as to be loosened in an Ω shape at the joint (seam) of the FPD panel 12.

(Fourth embodiment)
FIG. 5A is a sectional view showing a foldable display according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5B shows a folded state of the foldable display according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing.
In FIG. 5, the same members described in the second embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  In the fourth embodiment, the black matrix 8 is provided on the upper surface of the sealing resin 7. In this embodiment, when the FPD panel 11 and the FPD panel 12 are folded, the black matrix 8 can cover the joint (seam), and light can be prevented from entering even without the light shielding cover.

(Fifth embodiment)
FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing a foldable display according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.
In the fifth embodiment, a resistive touch panel is attached to the light emission surface (transparent sheet 3 surface) of the foldable display of the fourth embodiment.
The resistive film type touch panel has two transparent electrode plates 16 which are opposed to each other and each formed with a transparent conductive film such as ITO on the opposite surfaces, and dot spacers 13 disposed between the two transparent electrode plates 16. And a sealing material 15 for bonding the two transparent electrode plates 16 on the outer periphery of the two transparent electrode plates 16 and a connector 14 that is a lead electrode from the transparent conductive film of the two transparent electrode plates 16. is doing.

When the resistance film type touch panel is pressed with a pen or a finger, the transparent electrode films 16 at the positions are electrically short-circuited. Then, when the voltage change in the XY direction is detected via the connector 14, the pressed image position in the foldable display is detected.
The dot spacer 13 prevents the transparent conductive films of the two transparent electrode plates 16 from being short-circuited at a place not pressed by a pen or a finger.
In addition to the resistive touch panel, a touch panel such as an infrared method, a capacitance method, or an ultrasonic method can be used as the touch panel.

The present invention is not limited to this, and for example, three or more FPD panels may be joined so as to be bent.
Furthermore, it may be configured to be folded into a U shape or a B shape.

  Further, instead of separately manufacturing a single FPD panel bonded to the transparent sheet 3, a plurality of FPD panels may be bonded to the single transparent sheet 3.

  The foldable display according to the present invention can display a color image on one wide screen when opened, and can divide and fold the screen. A wide screen with a high FPD panel can be provided.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 2 FPD panel 3 Transparent sheet 4 Anode 5 Cathode 6 Organic EL light emitting layer 7 Sealing resin 8 Black matrix 9 Insulating substrate, 9a Glass substrate 10 Light-shielding cover 11, 12 FPD panel 13 Dot spacer 14 Connector 15 Sealing material 16 Transparent electrode Film 17 Organic EL element 18 Adhesive layer 19, 20 Sealing glass 21 Casing 22 Flexible display

Claims (5)

A plurality of flat display units having a flat image display surface;
A transparent sheet that is attached to each of the image display surfaces in a state of abutting the end surfaces of the plurality of flat display units, and integrally fixes the plurality of flat display units;
With
The plurality of flat display units are configured to be openable and closable with a position corresponding to the end surface of the transparent sheet as a folding unit. The flat display unit has a plurality of pixels formed in a matrix and a light shielding unit formed between the pixels,
The folding display according to claim 1, wherein the end surface is formed at a position corresponding to the light shielding portion. The folding display according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a surface opposite to the image display surface of the plurality of flat display portions is covered with a light shielding sheet.   The foldable display according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a touch panel is disposed on the transparent sheet.   The foldable display according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the plurality of flat display portions are made of organic EL elements.

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