Display device having an embedded shielding layer flexible substrate

Abstract

A display device includes a flexible substrate, a buffer layer on the flexible substrate and including an inorganic material, a display area including a plurality of pixels on the buffer layer and each including a pixel circuit including a first thin film transistor (TFT), a second TFT, and a storage capacitor and a display device connected to the pixel circuit, and a non-display area that is adjacent to the display area. The flexible substrate includes at least one base layer, at least one inorganic barrier layer, and a shielding layer including a portion having a certain area and an opening adjacent to the portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A display device comprising:
 a flexible substrate; 
 a buffer layer arranged on the flexible substrate and comprising an inorganic insulating material; and 
 a plurality of pixel circuits arranged on the buffer layer, and a plurality of display elements respectively electrically connected to the plurality of pixel circuits, 
 wherein the flexible substrate comprises at least one polymer layer, at least one inorganic barrier layer, and a shielding layer having conductivity, and 
 the shielding layer comprises a plurality of first areas corresponding to the plurality of pixel circuits in a plan view, respectively, and spaced apart from each other in a first direction and a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and a plurality of second areas connecting the plurality of first areas in at least one of the first direction and the second direction, 
 wherein a width of the each of the plurality of first areas is greater than a width of the each of the plurality of second areas. 
 
     
     
       2. The display device of  claim 1 , wherein
 each of the plurality of pixel circuits comprises a driving thin-film transistor, a switching thin-film transistor, and a storage capacitor, and 
 the plurality of first areas overlap the driving thin-film transistors of the plurality of pixel circuits, respectively. 
 
     
     
       3. The display device of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of first areas overlap the storage capacitors of the plurality of pixel circuits, respectively. 
     
     
       4. The display device of  claim 1 , wherein the shielding layer comprises an opening surrounded by the plurality of first areas and the plurality of second areas. 
     
     
       5. The display device of  claim 4 , wherein the flexible substrate comprises:
 a first polymer layer; 
 a second polymer layer on the first polymer layer; 
 an inorganic barrier layer between the first polymer layer and the second polymer layer; and 
 the shielding layer. 
 
     
     
       6. The display device of  claim 5 , wherein
 the first polymer layer comprises an upper surface that faces the inorganic barrier layer, and a lower surface opposite to the upper surface, and 
 the shielding layer is on at least one of the upper surface and the lower surface of the first polymer layer. 
 
     
     
       7. The display device of  claim 6 , wherein
 the shielding layer is between the first polymer layer and the inorganic barrier layer, and 
 the inorganic barrier layer and the first polymer layer directly contact each other via the opening of the shielding layer. 
 
     
     
       8. The display device of  claim 5 , wherein
 the second polymer layer comprises a lower surface that faces the inorganic barrier layer, and an upper surface opposite to the lower surface, and 
 the shielding layer is on at least one of the upper surface and the lower surface of the second polymer layer. 
 
     
     
       9. The display device of  claim 8 , wherein
 the shielding layer is between the first polymer layer and the inorganic barrier layer, and 
 the inorganic barrier layer and the second polymer layer directly contact each other via the opening of the shielding layer. 
 
     
     
       10. The display device of  claim 1 , wherein the shielding layer comprises amorphous silicon doped with P-type or N-type impurities or hydrogenated amorphous silicon. 
     
     
       11. The display device of  claim 1 , wherein the shielding layer comprises a transparent conductive material. 
     
     
       12. The display device of  claim 1 , wherein the shielding layer further comprises an additional shielding portion that is on an edge of the flexible substrate and is connected to the plurality of second areas. 
     
     
       13. A display device comprising:
 a conductive layer on at least one polymer layer and a first inorganic barrier layer;   a buffer layer on the conductive layer and comprising an inorganic insulating material; and   a plurality of driving transistors on the buffer layer and each comprising a semiconductor layer that is in direct contact with the buffer layer,   wherein the conductive layer comprises:
 a plurality of first areas overlapped with the plurality of the driving transistors; and 
 a plurality of second areas connecting adjacent first areas among the plurality of first areas in a first direction and a second direction crossing the first direction, 
   wherein a width of the each of the plurality of first areas is greater than a width of the each of the plurality of second areas.   
     
     
       14. The display device of  claim 13 , wherein the conductive layer comprises a plurality of openings, and two adjacent openings among the plurality of openings are spaced apart from each other with one of plurality of second areas in a plan view. 
     
     
       15. The display device of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one polymer layer comprises:
 a first polymer layer; and   a second polymer layer on the first polymer layer with the first inorganic barrier layer therebetween, and wherein the second polymer layer is between the first inorganic barrier layer and the conductive layer.   
     
     
       16. The display device of  claim 15 , further comprising
 a second inorganic barrier layer between the second polymer layer and the buffer layer.   
     
     
       17. A display device comprising:
 a first polymer layer;   a second polymer layer;   a first inorganic barrier layer between the first polymer layer and the second polymer layer;   a second inorganic barrier layer disposed opposite the first inorganic barrier layer with the second polymer layer interposed therebetween;   a buffer layer disposed opposite the second polymer layer with a second inorganic barrier layer interposed therebetween, the buffer layer comprising an inorganic insulating material;   a conductive layer between the second polymer layer and buffer layer;   a plurality of driving transistors arranged on the buffer layer; and   a plurality of display elements respectively electrically connected to the plurality of driving transistors,   wherein the conductive layer comprises:
 a plurality of first areas overlapped with the plurality of the driving transistors; and 
 a plurality of second areas connecting adjacent first areas among the plurality of first areas in a first direction and a second direction crossing the first direction, 
   wherein a width of the each of the plurality of first areas is greater than a width of the each of the plurality of second areas.   
     
     
       18. The display device of  claim 17 , wherein the conductive layer comprises a plurality of openings, and two adjacent openings among the plurality of openings are spaced apart from each other with one of plurality of second areas in a plan view. 
     
     
       19. The display device of  claim 17 , wherein each of the plurality of driving transistors comprises a semiconductor being in direct contact with the buffer layer.