KR101051672B1 - Backlight unit for flexible display and manufacturing method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a flexible display backlight unit which is made of a tube shape having a small size and various sizes, and emits light by plasma discharge, and includes a metal thin film electrode on one surface thereof, and coated with a polymer adhesive layer. A pair of polymer substrates; A discharge lamp interposed on the pair of polymer substrates and connected to an external power source through the electrode to emit light by plasma discharge; Among the polymer substrates, a flexible display backlight unit which is laminated on any one of the polymer substrates, is electrically connected to the discharge lamp, and has a configuration including a flexible printed circuit board, and a method of manufacturing the same.

Flexible, Display, Backlight, Discharge Lamp, Plasma

Description

Back light unit for flexible display and method for manufacturing of that}

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a backlight unit for a flexible display and a method of manufacturing the same. The present invention relates to a flexible display backlight unit and a method of manufacturing the same, which are formed in a tube shape having a small size and varying sizes.

In general, an information display device (information display device) is an electro-optical device that is used to convert the electrical signal into a visual image so that humans can directly decode the information.

Such electronic information display devices include CRT (Cathode-Ray Tube), LED (Light Emitting Diode), PDP (Plasma Display Panel), LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), etc. The spread is on the rise.

However, recent developments in display devices have tended to increase the technological development of small display devices, which are easy to carry and carry by users, due to the development of large-scale development, and thus, display devices that are lighter, thinner, and have free design and flexibility. R & D of in-flexible displays is in full swing.

Currently, flexible displays are implemented using organic light emitting devices, e-papers, and LCD technologies. Among them, flexible displays using LCD technology are the most advanced. Flexible displays using such LCD technologies diffuse light brightly. It requires a backlight unit.

The backlight unit is divided into a direct method of directly illuminating the front of the LCD panel by placing a light source under the LCD panel, and an edge method of placing a light source on one side or both sides of the LCD panel to be illuminated by a light guide plate and a reflector. The edge type backlight unit, which is mainly used in a mobile phone, is composed of a combination of a backlight assembly and an optical film, and its configuration is very complicated, thereby limiting the thinning.

That is, the conventional backlight unit includes a backlight assembly including a light guide plate, a mold frame, an LED, a flexible substrate, and a reflective film, a primary diffusion film, a primary prism film, a secondary prism film, a secondary diffusion film, and a light shielding film. Consisting of an optical film consisting of, the configuration is complicated, difficult to assemble, and also cost a lot of manufacturing costs, there was a problem that the limitation in thinning.

Accordingly, due to the problems described above, a plasma tube array (Korean Patent No. 714948), which is a backlight light emitting device using plasma discharge, has been proposed. However, the patent discloses a glass tube and then blows a phosphor therein. In this case, it is difficult to apply the dielectric and the phosphor to the inside of the glass tube so that the coating is made unevenly, so that it is difficult to emit light having a uniform wavelength and intensity.

In addition, the size is also very large, there is a limitation to apply to a flexible display to have flexibility, and since the implementation of the process is carried out one by one for the glass tube, there is also a problem that it is difficult to lower the price due to low productivity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has an object of providing a flexible display backlight unit and a method of manufacturing the same having high flexibility, high stability of light emitting characteristics, and low productivity due to high productivity. .

In addition, an object of the present invention is to provide a flexible display backlight unit which is made of a tube shape having a small size and various sizes, and emits light by plasma discharge, and a method of manufacturing the same.

In addition, the present invention has another object to provide a flexible display backlight unit and a method of manufacturing the same can be adjusted to the shape and size of the pattern at any time to facilitate the size adjustment of the discharge lamp widely applicable to various fields.

In addition, an object of the present invention is to provide a flexible display backlight unit and a method of manufacturing the same, which can be easily packaged with a peripheral circuit for plasma discharge by carrying out the alignment of the discharge lamp using a polymer adhesive layer. .

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a flexible display backlight unit including: a pair of polymer substrates each including a metal thin film electrode on one surface thereof, and a polymer adhesive layer coated thereon; A discharge lamp interposed on the pair of polymer substrates and connected to an external power source through the electrode to emit light by plasma discharge; Among the polymer substrate, it is laminated on any one of the polymer substrate, and electrically connected to the discharge lamp, characterized in that it comprises a printed circuit board having flexibility.

Here, the discharge lamp is formed in the form of a glass tube filled with an inert gas therein, the outer surface of the glass tube is formed with the electrode portions in the longitudinal direction to face each other, the inner surface of the glass tube corresponding to the electrode portion and the phosphor and Preferably, the dielectric is formed in the longitudinal direction.

In this case, the glass tube may be formed in a polygonal shape of circular or triangular or more.

In addition, the flexible display backlight unit according to the present invention, the polymer substrate coated with a polymer adhesive layer including a metal thin film electrode on one surface; The polymer substrate is stacked with each other, and electrode parts are formed in both directions, and one electrode part is connected to an external power source through an electrode of the polymer substrate, and the other electrode part is made of a thin film metal or metal oxide having flexibility. A discharge lamp connected to an external power source to emit light by plasma discharge; The discharge lamp may be electrically connected to the discharge lamp, and may include a printed circuit board having flexibility.

Even in this case, the discharge lamp is formed in the form of a glass tube in which an inert gas is sealed therein, and the outer surface of the glass tube is formed in the longitudinal direction opposite to each other, the inner surface of the glass tube corresponding to the electrode portion, respectively It is preferable that the phosphor and the dielectric are formed in the longitudinal direction, and the glass tube may be formed in a polygonal shape of circular or triangular or more.

On the other hand, the manufacturing method of the flexible display backlight unit according to the present invention for achieving the above object, (a) the electrode portion is formed on the outer surface of the glass tube opposite, the inner surface of the glass tube corresponding to the electrode and the phosphor and Manufacturing a plurality of discharge lamps in which a dielectric is formed, and a gas capable of plasma discharge is enclosed therein; (b) providing a polymer substrate coated with an adhesive layer including electrodes of metal thin films on one surface thereof so as to be connected to both electrode portions of the discharge lamp, and placing the discharge lamp between the polymer substrates; (c) stacking a flexible printed circuit board on any one of the polymer substrates; (d) electrically connecting the electrodes of the polymer substrate and the printed circuit board to supply power to electrode portions of the discharge lamp that are connected to the electrodes of the polymer substrate to cause the discharge lamp to emit light. do.

In the manufacturing of the discharge lamp in the step (a), (a-1) a plurality of recesses are formed on one surface of the silicon substrate at predetermined intervals, the transparent oxide electrode portions are deposited on the recesses, and the silicon substrate is formed. A step of manufacturing a lower substrate comprising applying a glass layer on one side of the silicon substrate, removing the glass layer applied on one side of the silicon substrate except one of the recesses, and depositing a phosphor on the glass layer formed only on the recesses. ; (a-2) forming a plurality of recesses at regular intervals on one surface of another silicon substrate, depositing a transparent oxide electrode on the recess, applying a glass layer on one surface of the silicon substrate, and Removing the glass layer applied to the other surface except for the recess, and manufacturing a top substrate including depositing a dielectric on the glass layer formed only on the recess; (a-3) overlapping the lower substrate and the upper substrate with each other so that the glass layers correspond to each other, and then applying a constant pressure at a predetermined temperature to bond the glass layers according to the glass transition; (a-4) It is preferable to include the step of manufacturing a discharge tube in the form of a glass tube by removing the silicon by etching.

In addition, in the step (a-1) or the step (a-2), it is preferable that a plurality of recesses formed on one surface of the silicon substrate at regular intervals are formed by isotropic etching.

In addition, in the step (a-1) or the step (a-2), it is preferable that a plurality of recesses formed on one surface of the silicon substrate at predetermined intervals are formed by anisotropic etching.

Further, in the step (a-1) or the step (a-2), the deposition of the transparent oxide electrode portion in the concave portion is preferably by a printing printing technique using a screen mask or a vacuum deposition technique using a screen mask. Do.

In addition, in the step (a-1) or (a-2), the coating of the glass layer on one surface of the silicon substrate is preferably performed by spin coating the liquid glass onto the silicon substrate.

In addition, in the step (a-1) or (a-2), the coating of the glass layer on one surface of the silicon substrate may be performed by placing a micro thin glass on the silicon substrate and heating it.

In the step (a-1) or (a-2), the removal of the glass applied to one surface of the silicon substrate, except for the recesses, is preferably performed by a chemical mechanical polishing process.

On the other hand, in the step (a-1), the deposition of the phosphor on the glass layer formed only in the concave portion, preferably by a printing method using a screen mask or a vacuum deposition method using a screen mask.

In addition, the deposition of the dielectric on the glass layer formed only in the concave portion in the step (a-2) is preferably by a printing printing technique using a screen mask or a vacuum deposition technique using a screen mask.

Moreover, it is preferable to advance in the gas phase which can carry out plasma so that the gas which can carry out plasma may be enclosed inside the glass layer joined together.

In addition, the step (a-4) is preferably etched by putting on xenon fluoride (XeF ₂ ) for a predetermined time.

As described above, according to the flexible display backlight unit and the manufacturing method thereof according to the present invention, there is a very useful effect of having high flexibility, high stability of the light emitting characteristics, excellent productivity, and low production cost.

In addition, the present invention is made in the form of a tube having a small size and a variety of sizes, and is provided with a flexible display backlight unit that emits light by plasma discharge, as well as the shape and size of the pattern can be adjusted at will to easily control the size of the discharge lamp There is also an effect that can be widely applied in various fields.

In addition, the present invention is carried out by using the polymer adhesive layer to align the discharge lamp, thereby providing an effect that can be easily packaged with the peripheral circuit for plasma discharge while having flexibility.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is an exploded perspective view schematically illustrating a flexible display backlight unit according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a discharge lamp applied to FIG. 1.

As shown, the flexible display backlight unit 10 according to the present invention includes a pair of polymer substrates 12 and 22, each of which includes electrodes 14 and 24 of metal thin films on one surface thereof, and is coated with a polymer adhesive layer. It includes.

In addition, the flexible display backlight unit 10 according to the present invention is interposed between the pair of polymer substrates 12 and 22, and the electrodes 14 and 24 of the polymer substrates 12 and 22 are disposed. It includes a plurality of discharge lamp 100 is connected to the external power through the light emitting by the plasma discharge.

The discharge lamp 100 is formed of a thin circular glass tube in which an inert gas, that is, inert gas such as He, Xe, Ne, etc., capable of plasma discharge, is enclosed therein, as shown in FIG. On the outer surface of the electrode), the electrode portions 104 are formed in the longitudinal direction so as to face each other, and the phosphor 106 and the dielectric 108 are formed in the longitudinal direction on the inner surface of the glass tube 102 corresponding to the electrode portions 104, respectively. Consists of a structure formed.

3A and 3B are cross-sectional views illustrating a discharge lamp according to another embodiment applied to the flexible display backlight unit of the present invention. As illustrated, the glass tube 102 may have a rectangular or rhombic shape. In this case, the electrode portions 104 are formed on the outer surface facing each other in the longitudinal direction, and the phosphor 106 and the dielectric 108 are formed on the inner surface of the glass tube 100 corresponding to the electrode portions 104 in the longitudinal direction. Is formed.

A plurality of discharge lamps 100 having the above structure are arranged at regular intervals, and interposed on a pair of polymer substrates 12 and 22, wherein electrodes of metal thin films are formed on one surface of the polymer substrates 12 and 22, respectively. (14,24) is included and the adhesive layer is coated, the discharge lamp 100 is stably interposed by the adhesive layer, and at the same time both electrode portions 104 of the discharge lamp 100 are formed of the electrode of the metal thin film ( 14, 24) will be made.

In addition, the flexible display unit 100 according to the present invention includes a printed circuit board 30 in which a circuit is patterned. The printed circuit board 30 may include any one of a pair of polymer substrates 12 and 22. It is stacked with one polymer substrate and electrically connected to the electrodes 14 and 24 of the metal thin film.

Therefore, the discharge lamps 100 are electrically connected to the printed circuit board 30 to emit light according to the electrical signal.

Although not shown, the flexible display backlight unit according to the present invention may include only one polymer substrate in order to reduce the thickness thereof.

That is, if only one polymer substrate including an electrode of a metal thin film on one surface and the adhesive layer is coated, the electrode of the polymer substrate is connected to any one electrode portion of the discharge lamp, the other electrode portion of the discharge lamp It may be configured to be connected to an external power source by connecting an electrode made of a metal thin film or metal oxide.

The manufacturing method of the flexible display backlight unit 10 according to the present invention having the above configuration will be described below.

4A to 4E are diagrams sequentially illustrating a processing sequence of a lower structure for manufacturing a discharge lamp for a backlight unit according to the present invention.

First, a silicon substrate 200 which is easy to process and relatively inexpensive is provided, and as shown in FIG. 4A, the silicon substrate 200 is patterned and etched to form recesses 202 on the surface.

The formation of the concave portion 202 in the silicon substrate 200 as described above is to form a glass tube in a later process, and in order to form a circular glass tube, a fully isotropic concave portion is formed as shown. It is preferable to use anisotropic etching in order to make an etching and a rectangular glass tube.

For reference, in the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, since a circular glass tube is described as an example, the hemispherical recess 202 is formed in the silicon substrate 200.

After forming the recessed portion 202 by patterning and etching the silicon substrate 200 as described above, the recessed portion 202 has an external electrode for connection with a plasma discharge power source, as shown in FIG. 4B. The electrode portion 204 to be used is deposited.

In this case, the electrode unit 204 deposits a transparent oxide electrode unit so that light emitted from the glass tube can be transmitted to the outside.

Here, the pattern of the electrode portion 204 may be formed through deposition, pattern etching, or lift off after the pattern deposition, but when the depth of the recess 202 is deep, optical lithography is not easy. Therefore, it is preferable to form by printing printing technique using a screen mask or vacuum deposition technique using a screen mask.

Next, as shown in Fig. 4C, a concave portion 202 is formed, and a glass layer 206 to be used as a glass tube is formed with the electrode portion 204 deposited on the concave portion.

The glass layer 206 may be formed by pouring liquid glass onto the substrate 200 having the concave portion 202 formed thereon, and then spin coating the glass layer 206 onto the substrate 200 on which the concave portion 202 is formed. It can also be formed by a method that does not hesitate.

Thus, a thin glass layer 206 is formed on the silicon substrate 200, which is formed on the inner surface of the recess 202 and on the surface of the silicon substrate 200 other than this inner surface.

Next, as shown in FIG. 4D, the glass layer formed on the surface of the silicon substrate 200 rather than the inside of the recess 202 is removed by a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) method.

Finally, as shown in FIG. 4E, the phosphor 208 for emitting light in the glass tube is deposited on the glass layer 206 formed in the recess 202. In this case, for the pattern of the phosphor 208, as in the electrode unit 204, it is preferable to deposit by a printing printing technique using a screen mask or a vacuum deposition technique using a screen mask.

When the processing of the lower silicon substrate 200 for manufacturing the glass tube of the discharge lamp 100 is completed in this order, as shown in FIGS. 5A to 5E, the upper part of the glass tube of the discharge lamp is manufactured. The silicon substrate 300 is processed.

Here, in the order of processing the upper silicon substrate 300, the method shown in Figs. 5a to 5d is the same as the method shown in Figs. Repeated descriptions will be omitted below.

When the sequence as shown in Figs. 5A to 5D is completed, as shown in Fig. 5E, the glass layer 306 formed in the concave portion 302 has a high energy state of ions or radicals generated by plasma discharge. A dielectric 308 is patterned to protect the interior of the glass tube from the back.

The dielectric 308 may also be formed by a printing printing technique using a screen mask or a vacuum deposition technique using a screen mask.

For reference, reference numeral 304 in FIGS. 5A to 5E indicates an electrode part.

6A and 6B are perspective views showing shapes of a lower silicon substrate formed in the order and method as shown in FIGS. 4A to 4E and an upper silicon substrate formed in the order and method as shown in FIGS. 5A to 5E. As shown in FIG. 7, in order to form a glass tube constituting the discharge lamp 100, the upper silicon substrate 300 is stacked on the lower silicon substrate 200 so as to face each other.

In this case, in order to bond the lower silicon substrate 200 and the upper silicon substrate 300, a predetermined pressure is applied at a predetermined temperature or more to bring the fluidity at the glass transition temperature, and in this case, the bonding is performed between the two substrates 200 and 300. Since the alignment of is very important, it is preferable to use a wafer bonding presser with an alignment function with an infrared microscope or a microscope inserted between both sides.

In addition, the pressurization and heating in the alignment state as described above is performed in an inert gas atmosphere such as He, Xe, Ne, etc. used in the manufacture of the plasma display panel in order to seal the gas that enables the plasma discharge into the glass tube. desirable.

After allowing the overlaid the lower silicon substrate 200 and the upper silicon substrate 300 as described above, the glass layer (206 306) are bonded to each other, fluorinated xenon (XeF ₂₎ when put for a period of time in the embodiment is isotropic etching, circular The silicon substrates 200 and 300 except for the glass layers 206 and 306, the electrode portions 204 and 304, the phosphor 208, and the dielectric 308 are all removed.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, the electrode portions 104 are formed on the outer surface of the glass tube 102 having a circular cross section, and the phosphors are formed on the inner surfaces of the glass tube 102 corresponding to the electrode portions 104, respectively. 106 and a plurality of discharge lamps 100 formed with the dielectric 108 are formed at the same time.

As such, when the silicon substrates 200 and 300 are removed while being etched, the discharge lamp 100 is transferred by using the polymer substrates 12 and 22 coated with a polymer adhesive layer on one surface thereof, thereby discharging the discharge lamp 100. The polymer adhesive layer is arranged between the polymer substrates 12 and 22 coated on one surface thereof, as if sandwiched.

In this case, the polymer adhesive layer coated on one surface of the polymer substrates 12 and 22 includes electrodes 14 and 24 of a wide metal thin film connected to an external power source, and the electrodes 14 and 24 are The electricity is supplied to the electrode portion 104 of the discharge lamp 100.

As the discharge lamp 100 formed as described above is supplied with power to the electrode unit 104, a plasma including ions and radicals excited in an energy state is generated inside the glass tube 102 to stimulate the phosphor 106. Light emission will occur.

At this time, it is a matter of course that the color and intensity of the light emitted can be adjusted by adjusting the type and thickness of the phosphor 106.

1 is an exploded perspective view schematically showing a flexible display backlight unit according to the present invention.

2 is a cross-sectional view of a discharge lamp applied to FIG.

3A and 3B are cross-sectional views each showing a discharge lamp of another embodiment applied to a flexible display backlight unit according to the present invention.

4a to 4e are cross-sectional views sequentially showing the manufacturing step of the lower structure for manufacturing the discharge lamp according to FIG.

5a to 5e are cross-sectional views sequentially showing the manufacturing step of the upper structure for manufacturing the discharge lamp according to FIG.

6a and 6b are schematic perspective views of a lower structure and an upper structure for manufacturing the discharge lamp according to FIG. 2;

7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a process of manufacturing a discharge lamp by overlapping the lower structure and the upper structure of FIG.

<Explanation of symbols on main parts of the drawings>

10: backlight unit 12, 22: polymer substrate

14,24 electrode 30 printed circuit board

100: light emitting lamp 102: glass tube

104: electrode portion 106: phosphor

108: dielectric 200: lower silicon substrate

202: recess 300: upper silicon substrate

302: recess

Claims (20)

delete delete delete delete delete delete delete (a) preparing a plurality of discharge lamps in which electrode portions are formed on the outer surfaces of the glass tubes, and phosphors and dielectrics are formed on the inner surfaces of the glass tubes corresponding to the electrode portions, and a gas capable of plasma discharge is enclosed therein; , (a-1) forming a plurality of concave portions on one surface of the silicon substrate at regular intervals, depositing a transparent oxide electrode portion on the concave portion, applying a glass layer to one surface of the silicon substrate, and concave on one surface of the silicon substrate Removing a glass layer applied to one surface except for a portion, and manufacturing a lower substrate including depositing a phosphor on a glass layer formed only on the concave portion; (a-2) forming a plurality of recesses at regular intervals on one surface of another silicon substrate, depositing a transparent oxide electrode on the recess, applying a glass layer on one surface of the silicon substrate, and Removing the glass layer applied to the other surface except for the recess, and manufacturing a top substrate including depositing a dielectric on the glass layer formed only on the recess; (a-3) overlapping the lower substrate and the upper substrate with each other so that the glass layers correspond to each other, and then applying a constant pressure at a predetermined temperature to bond the glass layers according to the glass transition; (a-4) manufacturing a discharge lamp in the form of a glass tube by removing silicon by etching; Manufacturing a plurality of discharge lamps; (b) providing a polymer substrate coated with an adhesive layer including electrodes of metal thin films on one surface thereof so as to be connected to both electrode portions of the discharge lamp, and placing the discharge lamp between the polymer substrates; (c) stacking a flexible printed circuit board on any one of the polymer substrates; (d) electrically connecting the electrodes of the polymer substrate and the printed circuit board to supply power to electrode portions of the discharge lamp that are connected to the electrodes of the polymer substrate to cause the discharge lamp to emit light. A method of manufacturing a flexible display backlight unit. Claim 9 was abandoned upon payment of a set-up fee. The method of claim 8, The plurality of recesses formed on one surface of the silicon substrate at predetermined intervals are formed by isotropic etching. Claim 10 was abandoned upon payment of a setup registration fee. The method of claim 8, In the step (a-1) or (a-2), The plurality of recesses formed on one surface of the silicon substrate at predetermined intervals are formed by anisotropic etching. Claim 11 was abandoned upon payment of a setup registration fee. The method of claim 8, In the step (a-1) or (a-2), The deposition of the transparent oxide electrode portion in the concave portion is a method of manufacturing a flexible display backlight unit, characterized in that by printing printing technique using a screen mask or vacuum deposition technique using a screen mask. Claim 12 was abandoned upon payment of a registration fee. In the step (a-1) or (a-2), The coating of the glass layer on one surface of the silicon substrate is performed by spin coating after pouring liquid glass on the silicon substrate. The method of claim 8, In the step (a-1) or (a-2), The coating of the glass layer on one surface of the silicon substrate is performed by placing a micro thin glass on the silicon substrate and heating the flexible display backlight unit. Claim 14 was abandoned when the registration fee was paid. The method of claim 8, In the step (a-1) or (a-2), The removal of the glass applied to one surface of the silicon substrate, except for the recess, is performed by a chemical mechanical polishing process. Claim 15 was abandoned upon payment of a registration fee. The method of claim 8, In the step (a-1), The deposition of the phosphor on the glass layer formed only in the concave portion, the method of manufacturing a flexible display backlight unit, characterized in that by printing printing technique using a screen mask or vacuum deposition technique using a screen mask. Claim 16 was abandoned upon payment of a setup registration fee. The method of claim 8, In the step (a-2), The deposition of the dielectric on the glass layer formed only in the concave portion, the method of manufacturing a flexible display backlight unit, characterized in that by printing printing technique using a screen mask or vacuum deposition technique using a screen mask. The method of claim 8, Step (a-3), A method of manufacturing a flexible display backlight unit, wherein the plasma discharge is performed in a gaseous phase such that a plasma dischargeable gas is enclosed in a glass layer bonded to each other. The method of claim 8, Step (a-4), Method of manufacturing a flexible display backlight unit characterized in that the etching by putting on a fluorine xenon (XeF ₂ ) for a predetermined time. A pair of polymer substrates each including a metal thin film electrode on one surface thereof and coated with a polymer adhesive layer; A discharge lamp interposed on the pair of polymer substrates and connected to an external power source through the electrode to emit light by plasma discharge, the discharge lamp manufactured by step (a) of claim 8; The flexible display backlight unit of claim 1, further comprising a printed circuit board stacked on one of the polymer substrates, electrically connected to the discharge lamp, and having flexibility. A polymer substrate coated with a polymer adhesive layer including an electrode of a metal thin film on one surface thereof; The electrode substrate is stacked with the polymer substrate, and an electrode part is formed in both directions, and one electrode part is connected to an external power source through an electrode of the polymer substrate, and the other electrode part is made of a thin film metal or metal oxide having flexibility. A discharge lamp manufactured by step (a) of claim 8, which is connected to an external power source to emit light by plasma discharge; And a printed circuit board electrically connected to the discharge lamp and having a flexibility.

Images