阅读说明：本技术 显示装置 (Display device ) 是由 洪钟昊 金相佑 辛在敏 朱惠珍 于 2019-07-11 设计创作，主要内容包括：本公开涉及一种显示装置,所述显示装置包括：多个主部,所述多个主部彼此分离；和多个桥状部,所述多个桥状部将相邻的主部彼此连接,其中,所述多个主部中的第一主部包括晶体管和发光元件,所述多个桥状部中的第一桥状部包括电连接到所述晶体管或所述发光元件的布线,并且所述第一桥状部包括在至少两个彼此不同的方向上弯曲的弯曲部。(The present disclosure relates to a display device, including: a plurality of main sections separated from each other; and a plurality of bridge portions connecting adjacent main portions to each other, wherein a first main portion of the plurality of main portions includes a transistor and a light emitting element, a first bridge portion of the plurality of bridge portions includes a wiring electrically connected to the transistor or the light emitting element, and the first bridge portion includes bent portions bent in at least two mutually different directions.)

1. A display device, wherein the display device comprises:

a plurality of main sections separated from each other; and

a plurality of bridge portions connecting adjacent main portions to each other,

wherein a first main portion of the plurality of main portions includes a transistor and a light emitting element,

a first bridge portion of the plurality of bridge portions includes a wiring electrically connected to the transistor or the light emitting element, and

the first bridge portion includes bent portions bent in at least two different directions from each other.

2. The display device according to claim 1, wherein:

the first bridge portion includes a first bent portion and a pair of second bent portions connected to respective ends of the first bent portion; and is

The bending direction of the first bent portion and the bending direction of the pair of second bent portions are different from each other.

3. The display device according to claim 2,

a radius of curvature of an inner edge of the second curved portion is greater than a radius of curvature of an inner edge of the first curved portion.

4. The display device according to claim 3,

the radius of curvature of the inner edge of the second bend is less than 90 microns.

5. The display device according to claim 1,

the wiring includes at least one of a data line, a driving voltage line for transmitting a first voltage, a voltage transmission line for transmitting a second voltage different from the first voltage, and a gate line.

6. The display device according to claim 1, wherein:

the first bridge portion includes a substrate, a first insulating layer disposed on the substrate, and a second insulating layer disposed on the first insulating layer;

the wiring is provided between the first insulating layer and the second insulating layer; and is

The first insulating layer and the second insulating layer include an organic insulating material.

7. The display device according to claim 6,

the first insulating layer does not overlap with the transistor of the first main portion.

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

the first main portion includes at least one insulating layer disposed on the substrate;

the at least one insulating layer is not present in the first bridge portion; and is

The first insulating layer of the first bridge portion is in contact with a side surface of the at least one insulating layer in the vicinity of a boundary between the first bridge portion and the first main portion.

9. The display device according to claim 7,

the first main section includes:

the substrate;

an active pattern disposed on the substrate;

a third insulating layer disposed on the active pattern;

a first conductive layer disposed on the third insulating layer;

a fourth insulating layer disposed on the first conductive layer;

a second conductive layer disposed on the fourth insulating layer;

the second insulating layer disposed on the second conductive layer;

a first electrode disposed on the second insulating layer;

an emissive layer disposed on the first electrode; and

a second electrode disposed on the emission layer and

the wiring includes a first portion in contact with the first insulating layer in the first bridge portion and a second portion in contact with the fourth insulating layer in the first main portion.

10. The display device according to claim 9,

the second insulating layer includes a groove surrounding the transistor and the light emitting element in the vicinity of an edge of the first main portion.

11. The display device according to claim 1, wherein:

the first bridge portion comprises a first portion connected to the first main portion and a second portion connected to the first portion;

the first portion is curved in a clockwise direction or a counterclockwise direction; and is

The second portion is curved in a direction different from the direction of the first portion.

12. The display device according to claim 1, wherein:

a second main portion of the plurality of main portions is adjacent to the first main portion,

the first bridge portion connecting the first main portion and the second main portion to each other and comprising a first portion directly connected to the first main portion and a second portion directly connected to the second main portion,

the first portion is curved in a clockwise direction or a counterclockwise direction, and

the second portion is curved in a direction different from the direction of the first portion.

13. The display device according to claim 12, wherein:

the plurality of bridge portions includes the first bridge portion, a second bridge portion, a third bridge portion, and a fourth bridge portion, wherein each of the first bridge portion, the second bridge portion, the third bridge portion, and the fourth bridge portion is connected to the first main portion; and is

Adjacent ones among the first, second, third, and fourth bridge portions have a symmetrical shape rotated by 90 degrees.

14. The display device according to claim 1,

the first main portion has a polygonal shape, a circular shape, or an elliptical shape.

15. The display device according to claim 2,

the radius of curvature of each inner edge of the pair of second curved portions is the same.

16. A display device, wherein the display device comprises:

a main portion including a transistor and a light emitting element; and

a plurality of connecting portions connected to the main portion,

at least one of the plurality of connection portions includes:

a first portion connected to the main portion and having an inner edge curved with a first radius of curvature; and

a second portion connected to the first portion, having an inner edge curved at a second radius of curvature different from the first radius of curvature, and curved in a direction different from the direction of the first portion.

17. The display device according to claim 16,

the first radius of curvature is greater than the second radius of curvature.

18. The display device according to claim 16, wherein:

the main portion and the plurality of connecting portions include a base;

the plurality of connection portions include wirings electrically connected to the transistors or the light emitting elements;

a first insulating layer including an organic insulating material is provided between the wiring and the substrate; and is

The main portion includes a region not having the first insulating layer.

19. The display device according to claim 18, wherein:

the main portion includes at least one insulating layer disposed between the substrate and the light emitting element; and is

The plurality of connection portions do not include the at least one insulating layer.

20. The display device according to claim 16, wherein:

the first portion is curved in a direction toward the main portion; and is

The second portion is curved in a direction away from the main portion.

21. The display device according to claim 16,

wherein a corner of the first portion connected to the main portion has a radius of curvature smaller than the first radius of curvature.

22. A display device, wherein the display device comprises:

first and second main sections arranged adjacent to each other in a first row; and

third and fourth main sections arranged adjacent to each other in a second row,

wherein the first and third main sections are arranged in a first column and the second and fourth main sections are arranged in a second column,

wherein the first and second main portions are connected to each other via a first flexible bridge portion, the second and fourth main portions are connected to each other via a second flexible bridge portion, the fourth and third main portions are connected to each other via a third flexible bridge portion, and the third and first main portions are connected to each other via a fourth flexible bridge portion,

wherein each of the first, second, third and fourth flexible bridge portions comprises two curved connecting portions.

23. The display device of claim 22, wherein the two curved connections of each of the first, second, third, and fourth flexible bridge portions form a U-shape where the two curved connections meet.

24. A display device according to claim 22, wherein the first main portion has a square shape with a first curved connecting portion protruding from a first edge, a second curved connecting portion protruding from a second edge, a third curved connecting portion protruding from a third edge and a fourth curved connecting portion protruding from a fourth edge.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a display device.

Background

The display device may comprise a plurality of pixels for displaying an image. A Light Emitting Diode (LED) display is an example of one such display device. The LED type display device may include: an organic LED display in which an organic emission layer is included in an LED, a micro LED display device using an LED chip having a size of several micrometers as a light emitting material, a quantum dot LED display device using quantum dots, and the like.

Recently, deformable display devices have been developed that can be bent, folded, elongated, or reduced in size.

Disclosure of Invention

The invention provides a display device with good stretching capability.

A display device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes: a plurality of main sections separated from each other; and a plurality of bridge portions connecting the main portions adjacent to each other, wherein a first main portion of the plurality of main portions includes a transistor and a light emitting element, a first bridge portion of the plurality of bridge portions includes a wiring electrically connected to the transistor or the light emitting element, and the first bridge portion includes bent portions bent in at least two directions different from each other.

The first bridge portion may include a first bent portion and a pair of second bent portions connected to respective ends of the first bent portion, and a bending direction of the first bent portion and a bending direction of the pair of second bent portions may be different from each other.

The radius of curvature of each inner edge of the pair of second curved portions may be the same.

A radius of curvature of an inner edge of the second curved portion may be greater than a radius of curvature of an inner edge of the first curved portion.

The radius of curvature of the inner edge of the second bend may be less than 90 microns.

The wiring may include at least one of a data line, a driving voltage line for transmitting a first voltage, a voltage transmission line for transmitting a second voltage different from the first voltage, and a gate line.

The first bridge portion may include a substrate, a first insulating layer disposed on the substrate, and a second insulating layer disposed on the first insulating layer, the wiring may be disposed between the first insulating layer and the second insulating layer, and the first insulating layer and the second insulating layer may include an organic insulating material.

The first insulating layer may not overlap with the transistor of the first main portion.

The first main portion may include at least one insulation layer disposed on the substrate, the at least one insulation layer may not be present in the first bridge portion, and the first insulation layer of the first bridge portion may be in contact with a side surface of the at least one insulation layer in the vicinity of a boundary between the first bridge portion and the first main portion.

The first main part may include: the substrate; an active pattern disposed on the substrate; a third insulating layer disposed on the active pattern; a first conductive layer disposed on the third insulating layer; a fourth insulating layer disposed on the first conductive layer; a second conductive layer disposed on the fourth insulating layer; the second insulating layer disposed on the second conductive layer; a first electrode disposed on the second insulating layer; an emissive layer disposed on the first electrode; and a second electrode disposed on the emission layer, and the wiring may include a first portion in contact with the first insulating layer in the first bridge portion and a second portion in contact with the fourth insulating layer in the first main portion.

The second insulating layer may include a groove surrounding the transistor and the light emitting element in the vicinity of an edge of the first main portion.

The first bridge portion may include a first portion connected to the first main portion and a second portion connected to the first portion, the first portion may be bent in a clockwise direction or a counterclockwise direction; and the second portion may be bent in a direction different from that of the first portion.

A second main portion of the plurality of main portions may be adjacent to the first main portion, the first bridge portion connecting the first main portion and the second main portion to each other may include a first portion directly connected to the first main portion and a second portion directly connected to the second main portion, the first portion may be bent in a clockwise direction or a counterclockwise direction, and the second portion may be bent in a direction different from a direction of the first portion.

The plurality of bridge portions may include the first, second, third and fourth bridge portions, wherein each of the first, second, third and fourth bridge portions is connected to the first main portion, and adjacent bridge portions among the first, second, third and fourth bridge portions may have a symmetrical shape rotated by 90 degrees.

The first main portion may have a polygonal shape, a circular shape, or an elliptical shape.

A display device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may include: a main portion including a transistor and a light emitting element; and a plurality of connection portions connected to the main portion, at least one of the plurality of connection portions may include: a first portion connected to the main portion and having an inner edge curved with a first radius of curvature; and a second portion connected to the first portion, having an inner edge curved at a second radius of curvature different from the first radius of curvature, and curved in a direction different from that of the first portion.

The first radius of curvature may be greater than the second radius of curvature.

The main portion and the plurality of connection portions may include a substrate, the plurality of connection portions may include a wiring electrically connected to the transistor or the light emitting element, a first insulating layer including an organic insulating material may be disposed between the wiring and the substrate, and the main portion may include a region without the first insulating layer.

The main portion may include at least one insulating layer disposed between the substrate and the light emitting element, and the plurality of connection portions may not include the at least one insulating layer.

The first portion may be curved in a direction towards the main portion and the second portion may be curved in a direction away from the main portion.

Wherein a corner of the first portion connected to the main portion may have a radius of curvature smaller than the first radius of curvature.

A display device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may include: first and second main sections arranged adjacent to each other in a first row; and third and fourth main portions arranged adjacent to each other in a second row, wherein the first and third main portions are arranged in a first column and the second and fourth main portions are arranged in a second column, wherein the first and second main portions are connected to each other via a first flexible bridge portion, the second and fourth main portions are connected to each other via a second flexible bridge portion, the fourth and third main portions are connected to each other via a third flexible bridge portion, and the third and first main portions are connected to each other via a fourth flexible bridge portion, wherein each of the first, second, third and fourth flexible bridge portions comprises two curved connecting portions.

The two curved connecting portions of each of the first, second, third and fourth flexible bridge portions may form a U-shape where the two curved connecting portions meet.

The first main portion may have a square shape, the first main portion having a first curved connecting portion protruding from a first edge, a second curved connecting portion protruding from a second edge, a third curved connecting portion protruding from a third edge, and a fourth curved connecting portion protruding from a fourth edge.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a layout view of a display device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention,

fig. 2 is a plan layout view of a display area of a display device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention,

fig. 3 is a top plan view of a unit area provided in a display area of a display device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention,

figure 4 is a top plan view of a bridge portion of a display device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention,

fig. 5 is a top plan view of a unit area provided in a display area of a display device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention,

fig. 6 is a top layout view of one pixel of a display device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention,

figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of the display device shown in figure 6 taken along line VIIa-VIIb,

figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of the display device shown in figure 5 taken along the line VIIIa-VIIIb,

fig. 9 is a sectional view of the display device shown in fig. 5 taken along line IXa-IXb,

figure 10 is a cross-sectional view of the display device shown in figure 5 taken along line Xa-Xb,

figure 11 is a cross-sectional view of the display device shown in figure 5 taken along line XIa-XIb,

figure 12 is a cross-sectional view of the display device shown in figure 5 taken along line XIa-XIb,

fig 13 is a view illustrating a biaxial elongated state of a display region of the display device shown in fig 2,

fig. 14 and 15 are views illustrating a deformation ratio and a maximum elongation ratio when elongating a display device according to several exemplary embodiments of the present invention,

fig. 16 is a view illustrating a deformation rate and a shape of a bridge portion when a display device according to a comparative example and an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is elongated,

fig. 17 is a bar graph comparing and illustrating maximum deformation ratios of bridge portions of display devices when the display devices according to the comparative example and several exemplary embodiments of the present invention are elongated isotropically and anisotropically,

fig. 18 is a layout diagram of pixels provided in one main portion of a display device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention,

fig. 19, 20 and 21 are top layout views each showing the arrangement of pixels of a display device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention,

fig. 22 is a layout diagram of pixels provided in one main portion of a display device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention,

fig. 23, 24, and 25 are layout views respectively showing the arrangement of pixels of a display device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an

Fig. 26, 27, and 28 are layout views of pixels respectively provided in one main portion of a display device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The described embodiments may be modified in various different ways, as will be understood by those skilled in the art, and therefore should not be limited to the embodiments set forth herein.

Like reference numerals may indicate like elements throughout the specification.

In the figures, the thickness of layers, films, panels, regions, or the like may be exaggerated for clarity.

It will be understood that when an element such as a layer, film, region or substrate is referred to as being "on" another element, it can be directly on the other element or intervening elements may also be present.

Throughout the specification, the plan view may be a view of a surface parallel to two directions (for example, direction DR1 and direction DR2) intersecting each other, and the sectional view may be a view of a surface cut in a direction (for example, direction DR3) perpendicular to a surface parallel to direction DR1 and direction DR 2. Further, two constituent elements overlapping may mean that the two constituent elements overlap in a direction DR3 (e.g., a direction perpendicular to the upper surface of the substrate).

Now, a display device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to fig. 1 to 4.

Referring to fig. 1, a display device 1000 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a display area DA and a peripheral area PA around the display area DA in a plan view. The display area DA may be referred to as an active area, and may display an image on a surface parallel to the first and second directions DR1 and DR 2.

The display area DA is provided with a plurality of unit areas UA and a plurality of signal lines. The unit areas UA may be arranged in a regular arrangement shape, for example, in a matrix arrangement.

Referring to fig. 2, the plurality of unit areas UA may include unit areas UAa and UAb adjacent to each other in the first direction DR1 and the second direction DR 2. The unit regions UAa and the unit regions UAb are alternately arranged. Each of the unit regions UAa and UAb includes one main portion 100, the unit region UAa includes a plurality of connecting portions 102a connected to the main portion 100, and the unit region UAb includes a plurality of connecting portions 102b connected to the main portion 100.

In the display area DA, the plurality of main sections 100 may be arranged in a regular arrangement shape such as a matrix, and may be separated from each other. The plan shape of the main portion 100 of each of the unit regions UAa and UAb may be one of various polygons, circles, and ellipses. In the present exemplary embodiment, the planar shape of the main portion 100 is a polygon, and an approximate square among the polygons is described as an example, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

Referring to fig. 3, at least one light emitting element LE and an electric element electrically connected to the light emitting element LE may be positioned in each main section 100. The light emitting element LE may include various light emitting elements such as an organic Light Emitting Diode (LED) including an organic emission layer, a micro LED, a quantum dot LED, or the like. The electric element may include at least one transistor and a capacitor, etc. connected to the light emitting element LE.

In the unit area UAa, the connection portion 102a may have a belt shape that is bent in at least two different directions. For example, the connection portion 102a may include: a first portion Pa1 which is bent in a clockwise direction while being separated from the main portion 100; and a second portion Pa2, the second portion Pa2 being bent in a counterclockwise direction and connected to the first portion Pa 1. In other words, the first portion Pa1 may be bent toward the main portion 100, and the second portion Pa2 may be bent away from the main portion 100.

At least portions of the inner edge IE1 and the outer edge OE1 of the first section Pa1 and the inner edge IE2 and the outer edge OE2 of the second section Pa2 may form curves. The radius of curvature R1 of the inner edge IE1 of the first portion Pa1 and the radius of curvature R2 of the inner edge IE2 of the second portion Pa2 may be different from each other. For example, the radius of curvature R1 may be greater than the radius of curvature R2. Here, the radius of curvature may be an average of the radii of curvature of the entire corresponding portions.

A radius of curvature R3 of an inner corner where the inner edge IE1 of the first portion Pa1 meets the edge of the main portion 100 may be different from a radius of curvature R1 of the inner edge IE1 of the first portion Pa 1. For example, the radius of curvature R3 may be less than the radius of curvature R1. Alternatively, the inner angle at which the inner edge IE1 of the first portion Pa1 meets the edge of the main portion 100 may be a sharp angle instead of a curve. In this case, for example, the curvature radius R3 may be 0.

An outer edge OE1 of the first portion Pa1 may be substantially parallel to an inner edge IE1 of the first portion Pa 1. However, a portion of outer edge OE1 may not be parallel to inner edge IE 1. For example, a portion of the outer edge OE1 adjacent to the main portion 100 may form a straight edge SE that is almost linear and not parallel to the inner edge; however, the remainder of outer edge OE1 may be substantially parallel to inner edge IE 1. Therefore, the width W1 of the first portion Pa1 may not be uniform in some regions, but may be substantially uniform in other regions. Fig. 3 illustrates an example in which the width W1 of the first portion Pa1 is not uniform. The width W1 of the first portion Pa1 decreases away from the main portion 100, and can maintain an almost constant width from a predetermined position.

An outer edge OE2 of the second portion Pa2 may be substantially parallel to an inner edge IE2 of the second portion Pa 2. Therefore, the width W2 of the second portion Pa2 may be substantially constant. Alternatively, the width W2 of the second portion Pa2 may not be constant.

The minimum width of the connecting portion 102a may be smaller than the length of any one of the edges of the main portion 100.

In the unit area UAa, four connecting portions 102a may be connected to the main portion 100, and each of the connecting portions 102a may be respectively connected to edges of the main portion 100 that face different directions. For example, the outer edge OE1 of the first portion Pa1 of each connecting portion 102a may meet a corner (or vertex) of the main portion 100. The shapes of the four connecting portions 102a connected to one main portion 100 and the connecting relationship with the main portion 100 are the same as each other, so that when the unit region UAa is rotated by 90 degrees, 180 degrees, 270 degrees, or 360 degrees, the unit region UAa may have the same shape as the unit region UAa had before the rotation. In other words, the four connection portions 102a connected to one main portion 100 may have a shape that is rotated by 90 degrees symmetrically with respect to each other.

In one unit area UAa, the outer ends of the connection portions 102a may face different directions from each other. In other words, the end of the connecting portion 102a connected to the left upper edge of the main portion 100 may face the upper side of the second direction DR2, the end of the connecting portion 102a connected to the right upper edge of the main portion 100 may face the right side of the first direction DR1, the end of the connecting portion 102a connected to the right lower edge of the main portion 100 may face the lower side of the second direction DR2, and the end of the connecting portion 102a connected to the left lower edge of the main portion 100 may face the left side of the first direction DR 1.

The shape of the unit region UAb adjacent to the unit region UAa, in other words, the shapes of the main portion 100 and the connecting portion 102b of the unit region UAb may be mirror-symmetrical with respect to the main portion 100 and the connecting portion 102a of the unit region UAa. In other words, in the unit area UAb, the connection portion 102b may have a belt shape that is bent in at least two directions different from each other. For example, the connection portion 102b may include: a first portion bent in a counterclockwise direction from the main portion 100 and a second portion connected to the first portion and bent in a clockwise direction. The connecting portion 102b of the unit region UAb has almost the same shape as the connecting portion 102a of the unit region UAa. Therefore, a detailed description for the connection portion 102b is omitted.

Referring to fig. 2, the unit region UAa and the unit region UAb adjacent to each other are connected by a bridge portion BR. Each bridge BR may include one link 102a of the unit region UAa and one link 102b of the adjacent unit region UAb. On the boundary between the unit region UAa and the unit region UAb adjacent to each other, the end of the connecting portion 102a of the unit region UAa and the end of the connecting portion 102b of the unit region UAb are connected to each other. The inner edges of the central portions of the connection parts 102a and 102b connected to each other may form a curve having a radius of curvature R2.

Referring to fig. 4, one bridge BR may include: a central curved portion 102C having a radius of curvature R2 and a pair of outer curved portions 102E having a radius of curvature R1. The outer curved portions 102E of the bridge portion BR are connected to the ends of the central curved portion 102C of the bridge portion BR, respectively. The central bent portion 102C of the bridge portion BR is formed by the second portion Pa2 of the connection portion 102a and the second portion Pb2 of the connection portion 102b, and may be bent while including an inner edge having a radius of curvature R2. Each of the outer curved portions 102E of the bridge portion BR is formed by the first portion Pa1 of the link 102a and the first portion Pb1 of the link 102b, and is bendable while including an inner edge having a radius of curvature R1. The bending direction of the central bent portion 102C and the bending direction of the pair of outer bent portions 102E may be different from each other. In other words, if the center of the radius of curvature of the inner edge of the central curved portion 102C is disposed on a first side of the bridge portion BR, the center of the radius of curvature of the inner edge of the outer curved portion 102E may be disposed on a second side of the bridge portion BR opposite to the first side.

Therefore, the bridge portion BR connecting two adjacent main portions 100 may have a belt shape including the central bent portion 102C bent in at least two different directions. The bending directions of the pair of outer bent portions 102E of the bridge portion BR are the same as each other, but are different from the bending direction of the central bent portion 102C.

Each bridge BR may have a symmetrical shape in the first direction DR1 and/or the second direction DR 2.

Referring again to fig. 2, the bridge BR connecting adjacent main portions 100 may include bridge BR11, BR12, BR21, and BR22 having a symmetrical shape. Bridges BR11, BR12, BR21, and BR22 may have shapes that are rotated 90 degrees with respect to each other.

Bridge BR11 and bridge BR12 may extend mainly in first direction DR1 and may connect main portions 100 adjacent to each other in first direction DR 1. Bridge BR11 and bridge BR12 may have shapes symmetrical to each other based on a reference line parallel to first direction DR 1.

Bridge BR21 and bridge BR22 may extend mainly in second direction DR2 and may connect main portions 100 adjacent to each other in second direction DR 2. Bridge BR21 and bridge BR22 may have shapes symmetrical to each other based on a reference line parallel to second direction DR 2.

Two main portions 100 adjacent to each other or two bridge portions BR adjacent to each other are separated from each other so that a GAP is formed between the two main portions 100 or the two bridge portions BR. The width W3 of the GAP is greater than 0.

The four bridge portions BR connected to one main portion 100 may have shapes symmetrically positioned at 90 degrees, 180 degrees, 270 degrees, or 360 degrees with respect to each other.

Referring again to fig. 2, the display device 1000 includes the substrate 110, and a planar shape of the substrate 110 may be the same as that of the display device 1000. In other words, the planar shape of the substrate 110 may be the same as the planar shapes of the main portion 100 and the bridge portion BR as described above. The substrate 110 may be removed in an area other than the main portion 100 and the bridge portion BR.

Driving circuits such as the gate drivers 400a and 400b and the data driver 500 may be disposed in the peripheral area PA.

The gate drivers 400a and 400b may be connected to gate lines among the signal lines disposed in the display area DA to transmit gate signals. The gate drivers 400a and 400b may be simultaneously formed in the same process as that of the transistors disposed in the display area DA. One of the gate drivers 400a and 400b disposed at the left or right side of the display area DA may be omitted.

The data driver 500 is connected to data lines among the signal lines disposed on the display area DA to transmit data signals. The data driver 500 may include a driving circuit chip bonded on the display device 1000.

As described above, according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, in the display area DA, the plurality of main portions 100 in which the light emitting elements LE are disposed are connected to each other by the bridge portion BR bent in at least two directions different from each other. As described later, due to the bridge portion BR according to the present exemplary embodiment, the deformability of the display device 1000 such as elongation (e.g., stretching) or shrinkage can be improved, so that the light emitting element LE and the electric element of the main portion 100 may not be damaged.

Now, a structure of a display device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is described with reference to fig. 5 to 12 and the above-described drawings.

Referring to fig. 5, in one unit area UA (e.g., one unit area UAa), at least one pixel PX may be disposed in the main portion 100. Each pixel PX may include the light emitting element LE described above and an electrical element such as a transistor. Each pixel PX may have a light emitting region that emits light as a unit for displaying an image.

Fig. 5 shows an example in which a red pixel R, a green pixel G, and a blue pixel B are provided as an example of a plurality of pixels PX provided in one main section 100. In fig. 5, an area indicated by a quadrangle inside the main section 100 may correspond to a light emitting area of each of the pixels R, G and B. The pixels R, G and B provided in one main section 100 may emit light of colors different from each other. Alternatively, at least two pixels PX provided in one main section 100 may emit light of substantially the same color as each other.

A plurality of wirings WR1 and WR2 may be provided in the connection portion 102 a. Each of the wirings WR1 and WR2 may include at least one signal line connected to the electric elements and/or the light emitting elements LE of the main portion 100.

The wiring WR1 having the end portion disposed at the connection portion 102a toward the first direction DR1 mainly extends in the first direction DR1, and the wiring WR2 having the end portion disposed at the connection portion 102a toward the second direction DR2 mainly extends in the second direction DR 2.

A part of the signal line included in the wiring WR1 can transmit a signal of a type different from that transmitted through the signal line included in the wiring WR 2. For example, the wiring WR1 may include at least one gate line for transmitting a gate signal, and the wiring WR2 may include at least one data line for transmitting a data signal.

The two wires WR1 and WR2 may include at least one voltage transmission line. For example, the two wirings WR1 and WR2 may include: a driving voltage line for transferring a first voltage (e.g., a driving voltage ELVDD) and/or a voltage transfer line for transferring a second voltage (e.g., a common voltage ELVSS) different from the first voltage.

An example of the structure of the pixel PX and an example of the stacked structure of the display device are described with reference to fig. 6 and 7 and fig. 5.

The substrate 110 may be made of an insulating material. The substrate 110 may include a material having flexibility. For example, the substrate 110 may be made of various organic materials such as PET, PEN, PC, PAR, PEI, PES, or PI, a metal thin film, or a glass thin film. The substrate 110 may have a single-layer structure or a multi-layer structure.

A buffer layer 120 may be disposed on the substrate 110, and an active pattern 130 may be disposed on the buffer layer 120. The active pattern 130 may include: channel regions 131a, 131b, 131c _1, 131c _2, 131d _1, 131d _2, 131e, 131f, and 131g, the channel regions 131a, 131b, 131c _1, 131c _2, 131d _1, 131d _2, 131e, 131f, and 131g forming each channel of a plurality of transistors T1, T2, T3_1, T3_2, T4_1, T4_2, T5, T6, and T7 included in one pixel PX, respectively; and a conductive region. The conductive region of the active pattern 130 may include: source regions 136a, 136b, 136c _1, 136c _2, 136d _1, 136d _2, 136e, 136f and 136g and drain regions 137a, 137b, 137c _1, 137c _2, 137d _1, 137d _2, 137e, 137f and 137g disposed at both sides of the channel regions 131a, 131b, 131c _1, 131c _2, 131d _1, 131d _2, 131e, 131f and 131 g.

The active pattern 130 may include an amorphous silicon material, a polysilicon material, an oxide semiconductor material, or the like.

A first insulating layer 141 may be disposed on the active pattern 130, and a first conductive layer may be disposed on the first insulating layer 141. The first conductive layer may include a plurality of gate lines 151, 152, 153, and 154 and a driving gate electrode 155 a.

The gate lines 151, 152, 153, and 154 may mainly extend in the first direction DR1, and may be connected to the gate drivers 400a and 400b described above. In the display area DA, the gate lines 151, 152, and 154 may transmit gate signals scanned in the second direction DR2 or a direction opposite to the second direction DR 2. After the gate signal is transmitted through the gate line 152, the gate line 154, which is a substantially same type of gate line as the gate line 152, may transmit the gate signal of the next stage. The gate line 153 may be referred to as a control line, and may transmit signals of different waveforms at different timings from those of the gate lines 151, 152, and 154.

The active pattern 130 and the plurality of gate lines 151, 152, 153, and 154 and the gate electrode overlapping the active pattern 130 and the plurality of gate lines 151, 152, 153, and 154 may form a plurality of transistors T1, T2, T3_1, T3_2, T4_1, T4_2, T5, T6, and T7. The first transistor T1 includes a channel region 131a, source and drain regions 136a and 137a, and a driving gate electrode 155a overlapping the channel region 131 a. The second transistor T2 includes a channel region 131b, source and drain regions 136b and 137b, and a gate electrode 155b that is a portion of the gate line 151 overlapping the channel region 131 b. The third transistor (T3_1 and T3_2) may include sub transistors T3_1 and T3_2 connected to each other. The sub-transistor T3_1 includes a channel region 131c _1, source and drain regions 136c _1 and 137c _1, and a gate electrode 155c _1 that is a portion of the gate line 151 overlapping the channel region 131c _ 1. The sub-transistor T3_2 includes a channel region 131c _2, a source region 136c _2, and a drain region 137c _2, and a gate electrode 155c _2 that is a portion of the gate line 151 overlapping the channel region 131c _ 2. The fourth transistor (T4_1 and T4_2) may include sub transistors T4_1 and T4_2 connected to each other. The sub transistor T4_1 includes a channel region 131d _1, source and drain regions 136d _1 and 137d _1, and a gate electrode 155d _1 that is a portion of the gate line 152 overlapping with the channel region 131d _ 1. The sub transistor T4_2 includes a channel region 131d _2, a source region 136d _2, and a drain region 137d _2, and a gate electrode 155d _2 that is a portion of the gate line 152 overlapping with the channel region 131d _ 2. The fifth transistor T5 includes a channel region 131e, source and drain regions 136e and 137e, and a gate electrode 155e that is a portion of the gate line 153 overlapping the channel region 131 e. The sixth transistor T6 includes a channel region 131f, source and drain regions 136f and 137f, and a gate electrode 155f that is a portion of the gate line 153 overlapping the channel region 131 f. The seventh transistor T7 includes a channel region 131g, source and drain regions 136g and 137g, and a gate electrode 155g that is a portion of the gate line 154 overlapping the channel region 131 g.

A second insulating layer 142 may be disposed on the first conductive layer and the first insulating layer 141, and a second conductive layer may be disposed on the second insulating layer 142. The second conductive layer may include a storage line 156 and an initialization voltage line 159 for transmitting an initialization voltage. The storage line 156 may include an expansion portion 157 disposed in each pixel PX. Portions of the extension 157 may be removed to form the opening 51.

A third insulating layer 160 may be disposed on the second conductive layer and the second insulating layer 142.

At least one of the buffer layer 120, the first insulating layer 141, the second insulating layer 142, and the third insulating layer 160 may include, for example, silicon nitride (SiN)_x) Silicon oxide (SiO)_x) Or an inorganic insulating material and/or an organic insulating material of silicon oxynitride (SiON). Some or all of the first, second, and third insulating layers 141, 142, and 160 may include a plurality of contact holes 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 67, 68, and 69.

A third conductive layer may be disposed on the third insulating layer 160. The third conductive layer may include a data line 171, a driving voltage line 172, and a plurality of connection members 174, 175, and 179.

The data lines 171 and the driving voltage lines 172 mainly extend in the second direction DR2 to cross the plurality of gate lines 151, 152, 153, and 154.

One portion of the connection member 174 may be connected to the driving gate electrode 155a through the opening 51 of the expansion 157 of the storage line 156 and the contact hole 61 in the opening 51. Another portion of the connection member 174 may be connected to the drain region 137c _1 of the sub transistor T3_1 of the third transistor T3 and the drain region 137d _1 of the sub transistor T4_1 of the fourth transistor T4 through the contact hole 63. The connection member 175 may be connected to the initialization voltage line 159 through the contact hole 64 and may be connected to the drain region 137g of the seventh transistor T7 through the contact hole 65. The connection member 179 may be connected to the drain region 137f of the sixth transistor T6 through the contact hole 69. The data line 171 may be connected to the source region 136b of the second transistor T2 through the contact hole 62, and the driving voltage line 172 may be connected to the source region 136e of the fifth transistor T5 through the contact hole 67 and to the extension 157 of the storage line 156 through the contact hole 68. Accordingly, the expansion portion 157 of the storage line 156 may receive the driving voltage ELVDD of the driving voltage line 172.

The third conductive layer may further include a voltage transmission line for transmitting a second voltage (e.g., common voltage ELVSS) different from the first voltage.

At least one of the first conductive layer, the second conductive layer, and the third conductive layer may include a conductive material such as copper (Cu), silver (Ag), aluminum (Al), molybdenum (Mo), titanium (Ti), tantalum (Ta), or an alloy of at least two of them.

The driving gate electrode 155a and the extension 157 of the storage line 156 overlapping each other via the second insulating layer 142 may form a capacitor Cst.

A first passivation layer 180a as a fourth insulating layer and a second passivation layer 180b as a fifth insulating layer may be disposed on the third conductive layer and the third insulating layer 160. The first passivation layer 180a may include, for example, silicon nitride (SiN)_x) Silicon oxide (SiO)_x) Or an inorganic insulating material such as silicon oxynitride (SiON). The second passivation layer 180b may include an organic insulating material such as a polypropylene-based resin and a polyimide-based resin.

The first and second passivation layers 180a and 180b may include contact holes 89 formed on the connection members 179.

The fourth conductive layer may be disposed on the first passivation layer 180a and the second passivation layer 180 b. The fourth conductive layer may include a translucent conductive material or a reflective conductive material.

The fourth conductive layer may include the first electrode 191. One first electrode 191 may be provided in each pixel PX, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The first electrode 191 is referred to as a pixel electrode. The first electrode 191 may be electrically connected to the connection member 179 through the contact hole 89, thereby receiving the data voltage.

The fourth conductive layer may further include a conductive pattern 192. The conductive pattern 192 may be bent along the edge of the first electrode 191. The conductive pattern 192 may transmit an initialization voltage. The conductive pattern 192 may be omitted.

A sixth insulating layer 350 may be disposed on the second passivation layer 180b and the fourth conductive layer. A portion of the sixth insulating layer 350 disposed on the first electrode 191 may be removed, thereby forming an opening 355 overlapping the first electrode 191. The sixth insulating layer 350 may include an organic insulating material such as a polypropylene-based resin and a polyimide-based resin. The sixth insulating layer 350 may be transparent or opaque, and may include a pigment such as carbon black.

An emission layer 370 is disposed on the first electrode 191. The emission layer 370 may include a portion disposed in the opening 355 of the sixth insulation layer 350. The emission layer 370 may include at least one of an organic light emitting material, an inorganic light emitting material, a quantum dot material, and the like. In a plan view, the area of the opening 355 may correspond to a light emitting area, which is an area in which each pixel PX emits light.

A second electrode 270 may be disposed on the emission layer 370. The second electrode 270 may be continuously formed throughout the plurality of pixels PX or throughout the plurality of unit areas UA, and may be referred to as a common electrode. The second electrode 270 may include a conductive transparent material.

In each pixel PX, the first electrode 191, the emission layer 370, and the second electrode 270 may together form a Light Emitting Diode (LED) ED as a light emitting element, and one of the first electrode 191 and the second electrode 270 serves as a cathode and the other serves as an anode. A Light Emitting Diode (LED) ED is a self-luminous element.

An encapsulation layer 380 may be disposed on the second electrode 270. The encapsulation layer 380 prevents penetration of impurities from the outside, thereby protecting the Light Emitting Diode (LED). The encapsulation layer 380 may include at least one inorganic insulating material and/or at least one organic insulating material, and the encapsulation layer 380 may have a single layer structure or a multi-layer structure. The encapsulation layer 380 having a multi-layer structure may include at least one organic insulating material layer and at least one inorganic insulating material layer, and the organic insulating material layer and the inorganic insulating material layer may be in direct contact with each other.

The structure of the pixel PX shown in fig. 6 is merely exemplary, and the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the pixel PX may include transistors different in number and connection relationship from those described above.

Next, the boundary between the main portion 100 and the connecting portions 102a and 102b and the cross-sectional structures of the connecting portions 102a and 102b are described with reference to fig. 8 to 12 together with fig. 5 to 7. The unit region UAa is described as an example, but the description of the unit region UAa applies equally to the unit region UAb.

Referring to fig. 8 and 10, the wirings WR1 and WR2 provided in the connection portion 102a may be provided on one conductive layer, and may be provided on the above-described third conductive layer.

Since the connection portion 102a is configured to have better deformability than the main portion 100, a layer having a high risk of breakage during deformation of the display device can be removed from the connection portion 102 a. For example, at least one of the buffer layer 120, the first insulating layer 141, the second insulating layer 142, the third insulating layer 160, and the first passivation layer 180a disposed in the main section 100 may be removed and may not exist in the connection section 102 a. Fig. 8 to 11 illustrate an example in which the buffer layer 120, the first insulating layer 141, the second insulating layer 142, the third insulating layer 160, and the first passivation layer 180a are all removed from the connection portion 102 a. For example, when the buffer layer 120, the first insulating layer 141, the second insulating layer 142, the third insulating layer 160, and the first passivation layer 180a include an inorganic insulating material, since the buffer layer 120, the first insulating layer 141, the second insulating layer 142, the third insulating layer 160, and the first passivation layer 180a are removed from the connection portion 102a, a risk of generating cracks when the connection portion 102a is deformed may be reduced.

In order to protect the wirings WR1 and WR2 and to improve flexibility, a seventh insulating layer 140 may be provided on the connection portion 102 a. The seventh insulating layer 140 is formed after the third insulating layer 160 and may be disposed under the wirings WR1 and WR 2. The seventh insulating layer 140 covers the substrate 110 of the connection portion 102a, thereby protecting the connection portion 102a in which the buffer layer 120, the first insulating layer 141, the second insulating layer 142, and the third insulating layer 160 are removed. The seventh insulating layer 140 may be provided only on the connection portion 102a, but may be removed from most of the main portion 100. Further, the seventh insulating layer 140 does not overlap with the transistors of the main section 100, for example, does not overlap with the active pattern 130 in plan view.

Therefore, when the connection portion 102a is deformed, even if a crack is generated in the seventh insulating layer 140, penetration of impurities due to the crack may not progress to the main portion 100.

The seventh insulating layer 140 may cover at least one edge side surface of the buffer layer 120, the first insulating layer 141, the second insulating layer 142, and the third insulating layer 160 near the edge of the main portion 100, and may be in contact with at least one edge side surface of the buffer layer 120, the first insulating layer 141, the second insulating layer 142, and the third insulating layer 160 near the edge of the main portion 100, and may cover a portion of an upper surface of the third insulating layer 160.

The seventh insulating layer 140 may include an organic insulating material such as a polyimide-based polymer, a polyacrylic-based polymer, a siloxane-based polymer, a fluorine-based carbon compound such as polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon), or a benzocyclobutene compound.

In the connection part 102a, the wirings WR1 and WR2 of the third conductive layer, the second passivation layer 180b, the second electrode 270, and the encapsulation layer 380 may be sequentially stacked on the seventh insulating layer 140. Alternatively, the second electrode 270 may be removed and not exist on the connection part 102 a. In addition, the encapsulation layer 380 may be removed and not exist on the connection portion 102 a. In addition, on the connection portion 102a, a sixth insulating layer 350 may be disposed between the second passivation layer 180b and the second electrode 270.

The insulating layer in contact with above and below the wirings WR1 and WR2 may include an organic insulating material. In other words, the seventh insulating layer 140 including an organic insulating material may be disposed directly under the wirings WR1 and WR2, and the second passivation layer 180b including an organic insulating material may be disposed directly on the wirings WR1 and WR 2. Therefore, the possibility of generating cracks in the organic insulating layer adjacent to the wirings WR1 and WR2 is low as compared with the case where the inorganic insulating layer is provided directly above or below the wirings WR1 and WR 2. Also, the influence of the penetration of impurities such as moisture on the wirings WR1 and WR2 can be prevented.

The wiring WR1 may include the driving voltage line 172, the voltage transmission line 173, and the gate lines 151, 152, and 153 as described above. The gate lines may also include the gate line 154 described above. The wiring WR1 may not include the driving voltage line 172 and/or the voltage transmission line 173. The number of the gate lines 151, 152, and 153 included in the wiring WR1 may be changed according to the number of transistors included in the pixel PX provided in the main portion 100.

The wiring WR2 may include a driving voltage line 172, a voltage transmission line 173, and at least one data line 171. Fig. 5 shows an example in which three pixels R, G and B are provided on one main portion 100 so that the wiring WR2 may include three data lines 171 as an example. The number of data lines 171 included in the wiring WR2 may be changed depending on the number of pixels PX provided on the main portion 100.

Referring to fig. 9 and 11, as described above, the first insulating layer 141, the second insulating layer 142, the third insulating layer 160, and the first passivation layer 180a are disposed on the main portion 100, and may be removed and do not exist on the connection portion 102 a. Therefore, there is no possibility that cracks are generated in the first insulating layer 141, the second insulating layer 142, the third insulating layer 160, and the first passivation layer 180a on the connection portion 102 a. Therefore, the possibility of such crack propagation to the main portion 100 does not exist. Therefore, the ability of the connection portion 102a to deform can be improved without damaging the display device.

The outermost surfaces of the first insulating layer 141, the second insulating layer 142, the third insulating layer 160, and the first passivation layer 180a may almost correspond to the boundary between the main portion 100 and the connection portion 102a, or may be disposed inside the connection portion 102a closer to the boundary between the main portion 100 and the connection portion 102 a.

Referring to fig. 5, 9 and 11, the second passivation layer 180b is also disposed on the connection portion 102a as described above, however, a portion of the second passivation layer 180b may be removed near the boundary between the main portion 100 and the connection portion 102a, thereby forming the groove 185b as a hole. The groove 185b may be formed on the first passivation layer 180a and may expose the first passivation layer 180 a. The second passivation layer 180b may not be present in the groove 185 b. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and some of the second passivation layer 180b may remain in the groove 185 b.

The groove 185b is provided on the main portion 100 in a plan view, however, the groove 185b may be provided near the boundary between the main portion 100 and the connecting portion 102a and extend along the edge of the main portion 100. The groove 185b may be continuously formed along the edge of the main portion 100, thereby forming a closed loop shape. The groove 185b may surround the electric element and the light emitting element disposed on the main portion 100. The second passivation layer 180b disposed on the main section 100 and the second passivation layer 180b disposed on the connection section 102a may be physically separated via the groove 185 b. Therefore, when the connection portion 102a is deformed, even if a crack is generated in the second passivation layer 180b, penetration of impurities due to the crack may not progress to the main portion 100.

In the groove 185b, the second electrode 270 may contact the upper surface of the first passivation layer 180 a. The first passivation layer 180a may be disposed between the third conductive layer 170S and the second electrode 270 such that the third conductive layer 170S and the second electrode 270 are not electrically connected to each other.

Referring to fig. 5 and 9, on the connection portion 102a, a wiring WR1 may be provided in the third conductive layer 170S described above. On the main portion 100, at least part of the wiring WR1 may be provided in a conductive layer different from the third conductive layer 170S, and for example, the wiring WR1 may be the above-described gate lines 151, 152, and 153. On the main portion 100, the gate lines 151, 152, and 153 may be disposed in the first conductive layer 150S. The third conductive layer 170S and the first conductive layer 150S of the gate lines 151, 152, and 153 may be electrically connected to each other through the contact holes 165 in the second insulating layer 142 and the third insulating layer 160 near the edge of the main portion 100.

Referring to fig. 5 and 11, on the connection portion 102a, a wiring WR2 may be provided in the third conductive layer 170S described above. On the main portion 100, at least part of the wiring WR2 may also be provided in the third conductive layer 170S, and for example, the wiring WR2 may be the data line 171, the driving voltage line 172, and the voltage transmission line 173 as described above. In other words, in the wiring WR2, the data line 171, the driving voltage line 172, or the voltage transmission line 173 may cover a boundary where an edge portion of the seventh insulating layer 140 meets the third insulating layer 160 near the boundary between the main portion 100 and the connection portion 102 a. Further, in the wiring WR2, the data line 171, the driving voltage line 172, or the voltage transmission line 173 may be continuously formed on the main portion 100 and the connecting portion 102 a. In the wiring WR2, on the main portion 100, the data line 171, the driving voltage line 172, or the voltage transmission line 173 may be in contact with the third insulating layer 160, and on the connection portion 102a, the data line 171, the driving voltage line 172, or the voltage transmission line 173 may be in contact with the upper surface of the seventh insulating layer 140.

The driving voltage line 172 and the voltage transmission line 173 included in the wiring WR2 may also have the cross-sectional structure shown in fig. 11. In other words, on both the connection portion 102a and the main portion 100, the driving voltage line 172 and the voltage transmission line 173 included in the wiring WR2 may be disposed in the third conductive layer 170S, and may be in contact with the upper surface of the seventh insulating layer 140 and the upper surface of the third insulating layer 160.

On the connection parts 102a and 102b, the second electrode 270 may be electrically connected to the voltage transmission line 173 through a contact hole of the second passivation layer 180b, or on the main part 100, the second electrode 270 may be electrically connected to the voltage transmission line 173 through a contact hole of an insulating layer between the second electrode 270 and the voltage transmission line 173, thereby receiving the second voltage.

Fig. 12 shows an example in which the substrate 110 has a multilayer structure. For example, the substrate 110 may include: a plurality of organic insulating material layers 110a and 110b made of a material such as Polyimide (PI), and at least one barrier layer 111 disposed between two adjacent organic insulating material layers 110a and 110 b. The barrier layer 111 may include an inorganic insulating material such as silicon nitride (SiN)_x) Silicon oxide (SiO)_x) Or silicon oxynitride (SiON), etc. In the cross-sectional view, the organic insulating material layers 110a and 110b and the barrier layer 111 may be alternately stacked in the third direction DR 3. When the substrate 110 includes the barrier layer 111, the barrier layer 111 may be disposed on the main portion 100 and may be removed at the connection portion 102 a. As described above, since the barrier layer 111 is removed at the connection portion 102a, defects such as cracks can be reduced at the connection portion 102 a.

Fig. 12 shows an example in which the second electrode 270 and the encapsulation layer 380 are removed from the connection portion 102a as described above. In other words, the second electrode 270 may be disposed on the connection part 102a, and a portion of the second electrode 270 to the right of the cutting surface 273 is removed. Similarly, encapsulation layer 380 may be disposed on connection 102a, and the portion of encapsulation layer 380 to the right of cut surface 383 is removed.

Now, effects of the bridge portion BR of the display device according to the above exemplary embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 13 to 17 and the above drawings.

Fig. 13 illustrates a biaxially stretched shape in which the display device is stretched from both sides of a direction parallel to the first direction DR1 and from both sides of a direction parallel to the second direction DR 2.

Referring to fig. 13, if at least a portion of the display area DA of the display device according to the above-described exemplary embodiment shown in fig. 2 is stretched (e.g., elongated), the interval (e.g., GAP) between adjacent main portions 100 is increased, and the bridge portion BR may be deformed, such as by bending. In other words, if the display area DA of the display device is stretched, the width W4 of the GAP is greater than the width W3 of the initial state of the display device. Therefore, the interval between the two connection portions 102a and 102b of each of the bridge portions BR11, BR12, BR21, and BR22 can be increased.

When the display area DA is stretched, the main portion 100 may be rotated in a plan view according to the deformation of the bridge portion BR. For example, the unit region UAa may rotate in a clockwise direction from the initial position of the unit region UAa, and the unit region UAb may rotate in a counterclockwise direction from the initial position of the unit region UAb.

In contrast, if at least part of the display area DA is contracted (e.g., reduced), the interval between the adjacent main portions 100 (e.g., the GAP) is reduced, and the bridge portion BR may be deformed such as by bending.

The bridge portion BR includes a plurality of bent portions (e.g., the central bent portion 102C and the pair of outer bent portions 102E described above) so that the bridge portion BR can be further smoothly bent. In this case, as shown in fig. 13, the shape of the main portion 100 may be hardly deformed as compared with the bridge portion BR. Therefore, even if the display area DA is stretched or contracted, the electric elements and the light emitting elements provided on the main portion 100 can be prevented from being damaged. Accordingly, the deformation capability of the display device such as stretching or shrinking can be improved.

The case in which at least a portion of the display area DA is stretched or contracted may refer to a case in which the display device is bent, rolled, or folded. The stretching or shrinking of the display area DA may be a single stretching/shrinking in which both sides of one direction are deformed, or may be a biaxial stretching/shrinking or a multiple stretching/shrinking (e.g., equivalent to as shown in fig. 13) in which both sides of two or more directions are deformed. For example, the stretching or shrinking direction of the display area DA may be at least one direction of the first direction DR1 and the second direction DR2, or may be a direction not parallel to the first direction DR1 and the second direction DR2, for example, a diagonal direction.

Fig. 14 and 15 illustrate deformation rates (e.g., strains) of the bridge portion BR for various curvature radii R1 and R2 according to gray scales and maximum deformation rates (e.g., maximum strains) of the bridge portion BR and maximum elongation rates (e.g., maximum elongation rates) of the display area DA according to numbers when the display area DA of the display device is stretched in the first direction DR1 and the second direction DR2 such that the display device is stretched by 5% as illustrated in fig. 13. For example, fig. 14 and 15 show changes in the deformation ratio of the bridge portion BR and the maximum stretching ratio of the display region DA when the radius of curvature R1 increases and the radius of curvature R2 decreases, respectively. When the maximum deformation ratio described in fig. 14 and 15 is small, the stress applied to the bridge portion BR is small. Therefore, it can be understood that, when the maximum stretching ratio is large, the stretching ability of the display area DA without damage is also large.

Referring to fig. 14 and 15, when the radius of curvature R1 increases and the radius of curvature R2 decreases, it can be seen that the maximum deformation ratio of the bridge portion BR slightly decreases and the maximum elongation ratio of the display region DA increases. However, in the case where the difference between the radius of curvature R1 and the radius of curvature R2 is very large (for example, greater than about 50 micrometers) and the radius of curvature R1 is 90 micrometers or more, the maximum deformation ratio of the bridge portion BR increases, and therefore, the maximum elongation ratio decreases. In other words, in order to obtain a desired stretching ability, the radius of curvature R1 of the bridge portion BR of the display device according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention may be less than 90 μm.

Fig. 16 illustrates deformation rates and deformed shapes of the bridge portions BRc and BR in gray scale when the display region of the display device according to the comparative example and the exemplary embodiment of the present invention is stretched in one direction, for example, when 5% is stretched in the first direction DR 1. Unlike the bridge portion BR of the present exemplary embodiment, the bridge portion BRc of the display device of the comparative example Ref has a linear band shape without a bent portion. It can be seen that the deformation ratio of the bridge portion BRc of the display device of the comparative example Ref is much larger than that of the bridge portion BR of the display device according to the present exemplary embodiment. Further, the bridge portion BR of the display device according to the present exemplary embodiment has no shape change when the display device is deformed. However, during when the display device is deformed, the bridge portion BRc of the display device of the comparative example Ref is bent, and therefore, the shape change is large. Thus, the bridge portion BRc may be seriously damaged.

Fig. 17 is a bar graph comparing the results of fig. 14, 15, and 16, and shows the maximum deformation ratio of the bridge portion BRc shown in fig. 16 and the maximum deformation ratio of the bridge portion BR according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention when stretching in two directions crossing (e.g., isotropic stretching) and stretching in only one direction (e.g., anisotropic stretching) comparing the example Ref and the display region of the display device of the present exemplary embodiment.

As compared with the comparative example Ref in which the bridge portion BRc has a straight-line shape without a bent portion, it can be seen that the maximum deformation ratio of the bridge portion BR of the display device according to the present exemplary embodiment is low in all cases of the anisotropic stretching and the isotropic stretching. Therefore, the deformability of the display area DA of the display device according to the present exemplary embodiment, such as the stretching ability and the further shrinking ability, can be improved. Further, as described above, in the case of exemplary embodiments #3 and #4 (refer to fig. 14 and 17) in which the radius of curvature R1 is greater than the radius of curvature R2 and the difference between the two radii of curvature R1 and R2 is less than 50 μm, the maximum deformation ratio of the bridge portion BR is the lowest, so that the stretching ability of the display region DA can be improved.

As described above, according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the maximum deformation rate for the bridge portion BR is low due to the shape of the bridge portion BR, so that the possibility of cracks is low. Accordingly, the stretching ability is improved for the entire display area DA, thereby providing a display device having good stretching ability.

Next, the arrangement of pixels in the main section 100 of the display device according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention is described with reference to fig. 18 to 28 and the above-described drawings.

Referring to fig. 18, on one main section 100, red pixels R, green pixels G, and blue pixels B may be disposed one by one. The light emitting region of the blue pixel B may be larger than the light emitting region of the red pixel R and the light emitting region of the green pixel G, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The present exemplary embodiment may be the same as the above-described exemplary embodiment shown in fig. 5.

Fig. 19, 20 and 21 illustrate various exemplary embodiments of the present invention to which the pixel arrangement illustrated in fig. 18 is applied.

Referring to fig. 19, the arrangement of the pixels R, G and B provided in each main section 100 may be constant. In other words, the arrangement of the pixels R, G and B provided in each main section 100 may be the same.

Referring to fig. 20, unlike fig. 19, the arrangement of the pixels R, G and B provided in two main portions 100 adjacent in the first direction DR1 may have mirror symmetry with each other (or linear symmetry with respect to the center line of the second direction DR2 between the two adjacent main portions 100).

Referring to fig. 21, unlike fig. 19, the arrangement of the pixels R, G and B provided in two main portions 100 adjacent in the second direction DR2 may have mirror symmetry with each other (or linear symmetry with respect to the center line of the first direction DR1 between the two adjacent main portions 100).

Referring to fig. 22, one red pixel R, one blue pixel B, and two green pixels G may be disposed on one main section 100. A column of green pixels G may be arranged in the second direction DR2, and red and blue pixels R and B may be alternately arranged in the first direction DR 1.

Fig. 23, 24, and 25 illustrate various exemplary embodiments of the present invention to which the pixel arrangement illustrated in fig. 22 is applied.

Referring to fig. 23, the arrangement of the pixels R, G and B provided in each main section 100 may be constant. In other words, the arrangement of the pixels R, G and B provided in each main section 100 may be the same.

Referring to fig. 24, unlike fig. 23, the arrangement of the pixels R, G and B provided in two main portions 100 adjacent in the first direction DR1 may have mirror symmetry with each other (or linear symmetry with respect to the center line of the second direction DR2 between the two adjacent main portions 100).

Referring to fig. 25, unlike fig. 23, the arrangement of the pixels R, G and B provided in two main portions 100 adjacent in the second direction DR2 may have point symmetry. In other words, the right/left side positions of the blue pixel B and the red pixel R among the pixels R, G and B disposed in the two main sections 100 adjacent in the second direction DR2 may be different from each other.

Referring to fig. 26, one red pixel R, one green pixel G, and first and second blue pixels B1 and B2 may be provided in one main section 100. The first and second blue pixels B1 and B2 may emit blue light having different wavelengths.

Referring to fig. 27, in part (a), one red pixel R and one green pixel G may be disposed in one main section 100, and in part (B), one blue pixel B and one green pixel G may be disposed in one main section 100. (a) The main portions 100 shown in the section and the main portions 100 shown in the (b) section may be alternately arranged in diagonal directions which are not parallel to the first direction DR1 and the second direction DR 2.

Referring to fig. 28, in part (a), one red pixel R and one blue pixel B may be disposed in one main section 100, and in part (B), one green pixel G and one blue pixel B may be disposed in one main section 100. (a) The main portions 100 shown in the section and the main portions 100 shown in the (b) section may be alternately arranged in diagonal directions which are not parallel to the first direction DR1 and the second direction DR 2.

The pixel arrangement shown in fig. 26 to 28 is applicable to a plurality of main sections 100 having the above-described arrangement shape in fig. 19, 20, 21, 23, 24, and 25.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the pixels PX disposed on the main section 100 may emit light of colors other than red, green, and blue, and the number of pixels PX positioned in one main section 100 may be variously changed.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.