# US 10,121,989 B2 · Flexible display device having auxiliary member at bending axis > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,121,989 B2 - Document ID: US10121989B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/417,684 - Filed: 2017-01-27 - Published: 2017-08-03 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2016-01-29 - Assignees: Samsung Display Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Samsung Display Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Changmin Park - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10121989B2 ## CPC - H10K 59/12: Active-matrix OLED [AMOLED] displays - H10K 59/123: Connection of the pixel electrodes to the thin film transistors [TFT] - H10K 59/8722: {Peripheral sealing arrangements, e.g. adhesives, sealants} - H10K 77/111: {Flexible substrates} - H10K 2102/311: {Flexible OLED} - Y02E 10/549: Organic PV cells - H10K: ORGANIC ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract A flexible display device includes a cover member having a bending area and a non-bending area. The non-bending area is disposed on opposite sides of the bending area. The bending area is bent or folded about a bending axis. A display panel is disposed under both the bending area and the non-bending area of the cover member. The display panel has a smaller area than that of the cover member. An auxiliary member is disposed alongside the display panel, and under the bending area of the cover member, such that a width of the cover member is substantially equal to a width of the display panel plus a width of the auxiliary member. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A flexible display device comprising: a cover member comprising a bending area and a non-bending area, the non-bending area disposed on opposite sides of the bending area, the bending area being bent or folded about a bending axis; a display panel disposed under both the bending area and the non-bending area of the cover member, the display panel having a smaller area than that of t:he cover member; and an auxiliary member disposed alongside the display panel, and under the bending area of the cover member, such that a width of the cover member is substantially equal to a width of the display panel plus a width of the auxiliary member. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The flexible display device of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary member comprises two portions disposed on opposing sides of the display panel. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The flexible display device of claim 1, wherein the cover member is a thin film. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The flexible display device of claim 1, wherein an image generated from the display panel is viewed through the cover member. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The flexible display device of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the cover member comprises a transparent material. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The flexible display device of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary member extends along an edge of the cover member that runs perpendicularly to the bending axis. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The flexible display device of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary member has a thickness equal to that of the display panel, as measured from a top surface of the display panel to a bottom surface of the display panel. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The flexible display device of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary member comprises an organic material. ### Claim 9 An electronic device, comprising: a cover including a transparent window; a display panel disposed below the cover such that the display panel is viewable though the transparent window; a first auxiliary spacer disposed on one side of the display panel; and a second auxiliary spacer disposed on an opposite side of the display panel, wherein the electronic device is bendable about a bending axis, wherein the first auxiliary spacer and the second auxiliary spacer are disposed along the bending axis, and wherein the first and second auxiliary spacers each have a height that is equal to a height of the display panel. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the width of the first auxiliary spacer plus the display panel plus the second auxiliary spacer, along the bending axis, is substantially equal to the width of the cover along the bending axis. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the length of the first and second auxiliary spacers, in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the bending axis, is smaller than the length of the display device in the direction perpendicular to the direction of the bending axis. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the cover is a thin film. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The electronic device of claim 9, wherein each of the first and second auxiliary members comprises an organic material. ### Claim 14 A flexible display device comprising: a flexible substrate; a thin film transistor (TFT) disposed on the substrate; a planarizing layer disposed over the TFT; a pixel electrode disposed over the planarizing layer and making contact with the TFT; an opposite electrode disposed over the pixel electrode; an organic emission layer disposed between the pixel electrode and the opposite electrode; an auxiliary member disposed alongside the flexible substrate; a cover member disposed over the flexible substrate such that the TFT, planarizing layer, pixel electrode, organic emission layer, and the opposite electrode are disposed between the flexible substrate and the cover member; and a support plate disposed under the flexible substrate, wherein the auxiliary member directly contacts the support plate and the cover member, wherein the auxiliary member is disposed between the support plate and the cover member. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The flexible display device of claim 14, wherein the auxiliary member comprises two portions disposed on opposing sides of the flexible substrate. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The flexible display device of claim 14, wherein the cover member is a thin film. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The flexible display device of claim 14, wherein an image generated from the organic emission layer is viewed through the cover member. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The flexible display device of claim 14, wherein at least a portion of the cover member comprises a transparent material. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The flexible display device of claim 14, wherein the cover member is bendable about a bending axis that runs through a bending area of the cover member and the auxiliary member is disposed corresponding to the bending area of the cover member. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The flexible display device of claim 14, wherein the auxiliary member and the display panel have a same height.