Display device and method of manufacturing same

Abstract

A display device includes a substrate including a first area, a second area, and a bent area therebetween, an inner wiring disposed in the first area, an outer wiring disposed in the second area, an inter-insulating layer which covers the inner wiring and the outer wiring and in which an opening corresponding to the bent area is defined, a first organic insulating layer, where a portion thereof is located in the opening, a connection wiring disposed on the first organic insulating layer and connecting the inner wiring to the outer wiring, a conductive layer disposed between the inter-insulating layer and the first organic insulating layer and electrically connected to one of the inner wiring and the outer wiring, and an inorganic protective layer which covers the conductive layer and in which an opening corresponding to the bent area is defined.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A display device comprising:
 a substrate including a first area, a second area, and a bent area between the first and second areas, wherein the substrate is bent;   a transistor in the first area;   a display element electrically coupled to the transistor;   an inner wiring in the first area;   an outer wiring in the second area;   a connection wiring across the bent area of the substrate and electrically coupling the inner wiring to the outer wiring;   a buffer layer on the substrate, a portion of the buffer layer being between the substrate and the transistor, and the buffer layer having a first opening in the bent area;   an inorganic insulating layer on the buffer layer, the inorganic insulating layer having a second opening in the bent area; and   an inorganic protective layer on the inorganic insulating layer,   wherein a width of the second opening is greater than a width of the first opening such that the buffer layer has a step around the first opening.   
     
     
         2 . The display device of  claim 1 , wherein an upper surface of the step is covered by a portion of the inorganic protective layer. 
     
     
         3 . The display device of  claim 1 , wherein the buffer layer comprises an inorganic insulating material. 
     
     
         4 . The display device of  claim 1 , wherein another portion of the inorganic protective layer overlaps a portion of at least one selected from the inner wiring and the outer wiring. 
     
     
         5 . The display device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first organic insulating layer, a portion of the first organic insulating layer being in the first and second openings and at least partially filing the first and second openings.   
     
     
         6 . The display device of  claim 5 , wherein another portion of the first organic insulating layer is interposed between the transistor and the display element. 
     
     
         7 . The display device of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the connection wiring is on the first organic insulating layer, and   the connecting wiring is electrically connected to the inner wiring and the outer wiring through contact holes in the first organic insulating layer.   
     
     
         8 . The display device of  claim 1 , wherein the inorganic protective layer has an opening overlapping the first opening and the second opening. 
     
     
         9 . A display device comprising:
 a substrate including a first area, a second area, and a bent area between the first and second areas, wherein the substrate is bent;   a transistor in the first area;   a display element electrically coupled to the transistor;   a buffer layer on the substrate, a portion of the buffer layer being between the substrate and the transistor, and the buffer layer having a first opening in the bent area;   an inorganic insulating layer on the buffer layer, the inorganic insulating layer having a second opening in the bent area; and   an inorganic protective layer on the inorganic insulating layer,   wherein a width of the second opening is greater than a width of the first opening, and   wherein the buffer layer has a step that is around the first opening, and an upper surface of the step is covered by a portion of the inorganic protective layer.   
     
     
         10 . The display device of  claim 9 , wherein the buffer layer comprises an inorganic insulating material. 
     
     
         11 . The display device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first organic insulating layer, a portion of the first organic insulating layer being in the first and second openings and at least partially filing the first and second openings.   
     
     
         12 . The display device of  claim 11 , wherein another portion of the first organic insulating layer is interposed between the transistor and the display element. 
     
     
         13 . The display device of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 an inner wiring in the first area;   an outer wiring in the second area; and   a connection wiring across the bent area of the substrate and electrically coupling the inner wiring to the outer wiring.   
     
     
         14 . The display device of  claim 13 , wherein another portion of the inorganic protective layer overlaps a portion of at least one selected from the inner wiring and the outer wiring. 
     
     
         15 . The display device of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a conductive layer between the connection wiring and one of the inner wiring and the outer wiring.   
     
     
         16 . The display device of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the conductive layer is electrically connected to one of the inner wiring and the outer wiring through a first contact hole in the inorganic insulating layer, and   a contact region between the one of the inner wiring and the outer wiring and the conductive layer is covered by the inorganic protective layer.