# US 11,029,773 B2 · Display module

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- Number: US 11,029,773 B2
- Document ID: US11029773B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/711,277
- Filed: 2017-09-21
- Published: 2018-04-05
- Granted: 2021-06-08
- Earliest claimed: 2016-09-30
- Assignees: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Yong-hwan Park; Miyoung Kim; Nayun Kwak
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11029773B2

## CPC

- G06F 3/0412: {Digitisers structurally integrated in a display}
- H01L 27/323
- H01L 51/5203
- G06F 3/0443: {using a single layer of sensing electrodes}
- G06F 3/0446: {using a grid-like structure of electrodes in at least two directions, e.g. using row and column electrodes}
- H01L 51/5246
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- H01L

## Abstract

A display module includes a display area and a non-display area disposed outside the display area on a plane. The display module includes a base layer, a circuit device layer, a display device layer, a thin film encapsulation layer, and a touch sensing layer. An inorganic layer of the touch sensing layer contacts an inorganic layer of the circuit device layer exposed by an organic layer of the circuit device layer. An inorganic layer of the thin film encapsulation layer is disposed between the inorganic layer of the touch sensing layer and the inorganic layer of the circuit device layer to block a moisture penetration path which causes delamination of the thin film encapsulation layer.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A display module comprising:
a base layer comprising a display area and a non-display area disposed outside the display area;
a circuit device layer comprising an intermediate inorganic layer overlapping the display area and the non-display area, an intermediate organic layer disposed on the intermediate inorganic layer to expose a portion of the intermediate inorganic layer within the non-display area in a plan view, and a circuit device, the circuit device layer being disposed on the base layer;
a display device layer disposed on the circuit device layer and comprising display devices disposed on the display area;
a thin film encapsulation layer disposed on the display device layer and comprising a first encapsulation inorganic layer, an encapsulation organic layer on the first encapsulation inorganic layer, and a second encapsulation inorganic layer on the encapsulation organic layer, at least one of the first encapsulation inorganic layer and the second encapsulation inorganic layer comprising a first region overlapping the display area and a second region overlapping the non-display area and having a thickness less than that of the first region and a film density lower than that of the first region; and
a touch sensing layer comprising a plurality of touch electrodes and a inorganic touch layer overlapping the display area and the non-display area and contacting the portion of the intermediate inorganic layer exposed by the intermediate organic layer, the touch sensing layer being disposed on the thin film encapsulation layer.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The display module of claim 1, wherein an edge of the intermediate organic layer is disposed inside an edge of the intermediate inorganic layer on a top surface of the base layer.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The display module of claim 1, wherein the thickness of the second region becomes smaller as a distance from the first region increases.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The display module of claim 1, further comprising a first protrusion part disposed outside an edge of the intermediate organic layer and extending along the edge of the intermediate organic layer.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The display module of claim 4, wherein the first protrusion part surrounds the edge of the intermediate organic layer.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The display module of claim 4, wherein the circuit device comprises signal lines electrically connected to the display devices and signal pads connected to ends of the signal lines, and
the signal pads are aligned in the non-display area.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The display module of claim 6, wherein a portion of the first protrusion part is parallel to the aligned signal pads, and
the display module further comprises a second protrusion part disposed between the portion of the first protrusion part and the signal pads and parallel to the portion of the first protrusion part.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The display module of claim 7, wherein the first protrusion part and the second protrusion part are disposed on the intermediate inorganic layer, and the second protrusion part has a height greater than that of the first protrusion part.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The display module of claim 7, wherein the first encapsulation inorganic layer overlaps the first protrusion part and the second protrusion part.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The display module of claim 7, further comprising an outer organic layer connected to the second protrusion part, spaced apart from the intermediate organic layer, and disposed between the display area and the aligned signal pads.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The display module of claim 10, wherein an edge of the outer organic layer is disposed inside an edge of the inorganic touch layer, and
the edge of the inorganic touch layer is disposed inside the edge of the intermediate inorganic layer.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The display module of claim 10, wherein a portion of the first encapsulation inorganic layer, which does not overlap the outer organic layer, is disposed between the intermediate inorganic layer and the inorganic touch layer, and
the portion of the first encapsulation inorganic layer, which does not overlap the outer organic layer, contacts the intermediate inorganic layer and the inorganic touch layer.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The display module of claim 1, wherein the non-display area comprises a first non-bending area, a second non-bending area spaced apart from the first non-bending area in a first direction, and a bending area defined between the first non-bending area and the second non-bending area, and
the bending area is bent so that a bending axis is defined in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The display module of claim 1, wherein the intermediate inorganic layer has a groove through which a portion of the non-display area of the base layer is exposed, and
a dummy organic pattern is disposed inside the groove.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The display module of claim 1, further comprising inorganic material lines disposed outside an edge of the intermediate inorganic layer to extend along the edge of the intermediate inorganic layer.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The display module of claim 15, wherein the inorganic touch layer is spaced apart from the inorganic material lines.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The display module of claim 15, wherein the touch sensing layer further comprises a touch organic layer disposed on the inorganic touch layer to cover the touch electrodes.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The display module of claim 17, wherein the touch organic layer overlaps the inorganic material lines.