Display panel and electronic apparatus

The present disclosure provides a display panel and an electronic apparatus. The display panel includes a housing, a supporting component, and a display panel body The display panel body is attached to a side of the supporting component away from the housing, and the display panel body is configured to move along with movement of the supporting component. When the supporting component moves to a first position, the display panel body is in a bent state, and a first housing portion and a second housing portion of the housing are fitted. Thereby, a problem that there is a gap after a housing of a conventional inward-folding wedge-shaped display device is closed is resolved.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a National Phase of PCT Patent Application No. PCT/CN2021/115932 having International filing date of Sep. 1, 2021, which claims the benefit of priority of Chinese Application No. 202110948054.0 filed on Aug. 18, 2021. The contents of the above applications are all incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein in their entirety.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to display technologies, and more particularly, to a display panel and an electronic apparatus.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

With the development of display technologies, foldable display devices have become a major development direction of display industry. The foldable display device can provide users with a large display screen to improve the visual effect when in an expanded state; and may reduce space occupied by the display device when in a folded state to facilitate storage and carrying by the user. Currently, there are many states of foldable devices, and there is a gap after a housing of an inward-folding wedge-shaped display device is closed, which is easy to have a foreign matter.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present disclosure provides a display panel and an electronic apparatus, to resolve a technical problem that there is a gap after a housing of a conventional inward-folding wedge-shaped display device is closed.

In order to resolve the above problem, the present disclosure provides the following technical solutions:

An embodiment of the present disclosure provides a display panel, including:a housing, including a first housing portion and a second housing portion movably connected to the first housing portion;a supporting component, including a first supporting component and a second supporting component, the first supporting component being movably connected to the first housing portion, and the second supporting component being movably connected to the second housing portion; anda display panel body, attached to a side of the supporting component away from the housing, whereinthe display panel body is configured to move along with movement of the supporting component, when the supporting component moves to a first position, the display panel body is in a bent state, the first housing portion and the second housing portion are fitted, and a first angle is formed between the first supporting component and the second supporting component to protect a bending portion formed by the display panel body.

In the display panel provided in the present embodiment of the present disclosure, when the supporting component moves to a second position, the display panel body is in a flat state, the housing and the supporting component are flat to cause the first housing portion to be level with the second housing portion, and a second angle is formed between the first supporting component and the second supporting component to support the display panel body, wherein the second angle is greater than the first angle.

In the display panel provided in the present embodiment of the present disclosure, the first housing portion is provided with a first groove, and the first supporting component is disposed inside the first groove; and the second housing portion is provided with a second groove, and the second supporting component is disposed inside the second groove.

In the display panel provided in the present embodiment of the present disclosure, both the first groove and the second groove include a groove wall and a groove bottom, and the groove wall is provided with a notch close to a movement joint of the first housing portion and the second housing portion.

In the display panel provided in the present embodiment of the present disclosure, a height of the groove wall is greater than a sum of thicknesses of the supporting component and the display panel body.

In the display panel provided in the present embodiment of the present disclosure, the groove bottom is an inclined surface, and a height of the groove wall is increased as the groove bottom extends toward the notch.

In the display panel provided in the present embodiment of the present disclosure, when the supporting component moves to the first position, the supporting component and the corresponding groove bottom are fitted; and when the supporting component moves to the second position, a third angle is formed between the supporting component and the corresponding groove bottom.

In the display panel provided in the present embodiment of the present disclosure, a magnitude of the third angle is equal to a half of a magnitude of the first angle.

In the display panel provided in the present embodiment of the present disclosure, the groove bottom is provided with a sliding groove on a side away from the notch, the supporting component is provided with a bump at a position corresponding to the sliding groove, and the bump is slidably mounted in the sliding groove.

In the display panel provided in the present embodiment of the present disclosure, the sliding groove is provided with a cylindrical hole inside, the bump is provided with a cylinder shaft, and the cylinder shaft is movably mounted in the circular hole.

An embodiment of the present disclosure further provides an electronic apparatus, including the display panel in one of the above embodiments.

In a display panel and an electronic apparatus provided in the present disclosure, A housing includes a first housing portion and a second housing portion movably connected to the first housing portion. A supporting component includes a first supporting component and a second supporting component, the first supporting component being movably connected to the first housing portion, and the second supporting component being movably connected to the second housing portion. A display panel body is attached to a side of the supporting component away from the housing, and the display panel body is configured to move along with movement of the supporting component. When the supporting component moves to a first position, the display panel body is in a bent state, the first housing portion and the second housing portion are fitted, a first angle is formed between the first supporting component and the second supporting component to protect a bending portion formed by the display panel body. By making the display panel body move with the supporting component, it is different from the opening and closing movement of the housing, so that after the display panel is folded, the housing can be completely closed in appearance without leaving a gap, resolving a problem that there is a gap after a housing of a conventional inward-folding wedge-shaped display device is closed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following description of various embodiments is provided to exemplify the detailed embodiments of the present disclosure with reference to accompanying drawings. The directional terms mentioned in the present disclosure, such as “above”, “below”, “front”, “back”, “left”, “right”, “inner”, “outer”, and “side surface” refer to the directions in the accompanying drawings. Therefore, the directional terms are only used for illustration and understanding instead of limiting the present disclosure. In the accompanying drawings, units with similar structures are represented using same labels. In the accompanying drawings, thicknesses of some layers and regions have been exaggerated for clarity and ease of description. That is, a size and thickness of each component shown in the accompanying drawings is arbitrary, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

For the problem that there is a gap after a housing of a conventional inward-folding wedge-shaped display device is closed, it is found during research in the present disclosure that, a flexible screen of the conventional inward-folding wedge-shaped display device usually moves along with movement of the housing. When the inward-folding wedge-shaped display device is in a folded state, to make the flexible screen form a safe wedge-shaped bending angle, a hinge mechanism of a folding region of the inward-folding wedge-shaped display device is required to be designed in detail, so that after being bent, the hinge mechanism makes room for accommodating the extra flexible screen compared with the hinge mechanism. In this case, a folding end of the inward-folding wedge-shaped display device is thicker, and there is a gap after the housing near the folding region is closed, and the gap may have a foreign matter.

In view of this, the present disclosure provides a display panel and an electronic apparatus to resolve the above problem.

Referring toFIGS.1to4.FIG.1is a schematic diagram of a part of structure when a display panel is flat according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.FIG.2is an exploded view of a display panel according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.FIG.3is a schematic diagram of a cross sectional structure when a display panel is flat according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.FIG.4is a schematic diagram of a cross sectional structure when a display panel is folded according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. A display panel100includes a housing10, a supporting component20, and a display panel body30. The display panel body30is attached to the supporting component20, and the supporting component20is disposed inside the housing10. The display panel100includes an organic light emitting display (OLED) plane, and the display panel body30may include a flexible substrate, a drive circuit layer, a light-emitting function layer, an encapsulation layer, and the like that are sequentially stacked on the flexible substrate. It may be understood that, the display panel body30in the present disclosure may include functional structures of conventional OLED, and details are not described herein again.

The OLED plane is flexible and wearable, so that the display panel body30can be bent or folded with the supporting component20, and therefore, the display panel100can be bent and folded. An example in which the display panel100is foldable in the present embodiment of the present disclosure is used for description.

Described in detail, the housing10includes a first housing portion11and a second housing portion12movably connected to the first housing portion11. The supporting component20includes a first supporting component21and a second supporting component22, the first supporting component21being movably connected to the first housing portion11, and the second supporting component22being movably connected to the second housing portion12. The display panel body30is attached to a side of the supporting component20away from the housing10, so that the display panel body30may move along with movement of the supporting component20. The display panel body30may be attached to the supporting component20using optically clear adhesive (OCA) and other colloids.

When the supporting component20moves to a first position, the display panel body30is in a bent state, the first housing portion11and the second housing portion12are fitted, and a first angle a is formed between the first supporting component21and the second supporting component22to protect a bending portion formed by the display panel body30. It should be noted that, the first angle a formed between the first supporting component21and the second supporting component22refers to an angle formed by extension and intersection of the first supporting component21and the second supporting component22when the supporting component20moves to the first position.

When the supporting component20moves to a second position, the display panel body30is in a flat state, the housing10and the supporting component20are flat to cause the first housing portion11to be level with the second housing portion12, and a second angle is formed between the first supporting component21and the second supporting component22to support the display panel body30, wherein the second angle is 180 degrees, and the second angle is greater than the first angle a. By making the display panel body30move with the supporting component20, it is different from the opening and closing movement of the housing10, so that after the display panel100is folded, the housing10can be completely closed in appearance without leaving a gap, to resolve a problem that there is a gap after a housing of a conventional inward-folding wedge-shaped display device is closed.

Optionally, the first housing portion11and the second housing portion12may be movably connected using a hinge (not shown), so that the first housing portion11and the second housing portion12can rotate relative to each other, and the display panel100can be folded and flatted. Certainly, to protect the hinge, the display panel100further includes an encapsulation mechanism40disposed between the first housing portion11and the second housing portion12. Moreover, a detailed structure of the hinge is not limited in the present disclosure, as long as the mechanism can implement relative rotation between the first housing portion11and the second housing portion12. Details are not described herein again.

The first housing portion11is provided with a first groove13, and the first supporting component21is disposed inside the first groove13; and the second housing portion12is provided with a second groove14, and the second supporting component22is disposed inside the second groove14. Both the first groove13and the second groove14include a groove wall and a groove bottom (such as a first groove wall131, a first groove bottom132, a second groove wall141, and a second groove bottom142as shown inFIG.2), and the groove wall is provided with a notch15close to a movement joint of the first housing portion11and the second housing portion12. The notch15is configured to cause the first supporting component21to move in the first groove13, and enable the second supporting component22to move in the second groove14.

Described in detail, the first groove13includes a first groove wall131and a first groove bottom132. The first groove wall131includes a first sub-groove wall1311and a second sub-groove wall1312that are disposed relative to each other, and a third sub-groove wall1313connected to the first sub-groove wall1311and the second sub-groove wall1312. That is, the third sub-groove wall1313is located between the first sub-groove wall1311and the second sub-groove wall1312, and the third sub-groove wall1313is disposed relative to the corresponding notch15. The first groove bottom132is an inclined surface, the first groove bottom132extends from the third sub-groove wall1313to the notch15, and heights of the first sub-groove wall1311and the second sub-groove wall1312are increased as the first groove bottom132extends toward the notch15. The first sub-groove wall1311, the second sub-groove wall1312, the third sub-groove wall1313, and the first groove bottom132form the first groove13with an opening on one side together.

Described in detail, referring toFIGS.1to5,FIG.5is a detailed diagram of a part of a supporting component and a housing according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The first supporting component21is disposed inside the first groove13and movably connected to the first housing portion11. Described in detail, the first groove bottom132is provided with a first sliding groove111on a side away from the notch15, the first supporting component21is provided with a first bump211at a position corresponding to the first sliding groove111, and the first bump211is slidably mounted in the sliding groove111. Further, the first sliding groove111is provided with a first cylindrical hole112inside, the first bump211is provided with a first cylinder shaft212, and the first cylinder shaft212is movably mounted in the first cylindrical hole112. In this case, the first supporting component21can rotate in the first groove13relative to the first housing portion11. Certainly, a movable connection between the first supporting component21and the first housing portion11in the present disclosure is not limited thereto. In the present disclosure, the first supporting component21may alternatively movably connected to the first sub-groove wall1311and the second sub-groove wall1312directly. For example, cylindrical holes may be disposed on the first sub-groove wall1311and the second sub-groove wall1312, and a cylinder shaft is disposed on the first supporting component21, so that the shaft-hole fit is formed on the first supporting component21and the first sub-groove wall1311and the second sub-groove wall1312.

In addition, the display panel body30is attached to the supporting component20. When the first supporting component21rotates relative to the first housing portion11, the display panel body30is driven to rotate relative to the first housing portion11together. To ensure that the rotation of the first supporting component21does not exceed a groove wall height of the first groove13, heights of the first sub-groove wall1311, the second sub-groove wall1312, and the third sub-groove wall1313of the first groove13are all greater than a sum of thicknesses of the first supporting component21and the display panel body30.

Similarly, the second groove14includes a second groove wall141and a second groove bottom142. The second groove wall141includes a fourth sub-groove wall1411and a fifth sub-groove wall1412that are disposed relative to each other, and a sixth sub-groove wall1413connected to the fourth sub-groove wall1411and the fifth sub-groove wall1412. That is, the sixth sub-groove wall1413is located between the third sub-groove wall1313and the fourth sub-groove wall1411, and the sixth sub-groove wall1413is disposed relative to the corresponding notch15. The second groove bottom142is also an inclined surface, the second groove bottom142extends from the sixth sub-groove wall1413to the notch15, and heights of the fourth sub-groove wall1411and the fifth sub-groove wall1412are increased as the second groove bottom142extends toward the notch15. The fourth sub-groove wall1411, the fifth sub-groove wall1412, the sixth sub-groove wall1413, and the second groove bottom142form the second groove14with an opening on one side together.

The second supporting component22is disposed inside the second groove14and movably connected to the second housing portion12. The second groove bottom142is provided with a second sliding groove (not shown, referring to the first sliding groove111of the first housing portion11inFIG.5) on a side away from the notch15, the second supporting component22is provided with a second bump (not shown, referring to the first bump211of the first supporting component21inFIG.5) at a position corresponding to the second sliding groove, and the second bump is slidably mounted in the second sliding groove. Further, the second sliding groove is provided with a second cylindrical hole (not shown, referring to the first cylindrical hole112of the first housing portion11inFIG.5) inside, the second bump is provided with a second cylinder shaft (not shown, referring to the first cylinder shaft212of the first supporting component21inFIG.5), and the second cylinder shaft is movably mounted in the second cylindrical hole. In this case, the second supporting component22can rotate in the second groove14relative to the second housing portion12. Certainly, a movable connection between the second supporting component22and the second housing portion12in the present disclosure is not limited thereto. In the present disclosure, the second supporting component22may alternatively movably connected to the fourth sub-groove wall1411and the fifth sub-groove wall1412directly. For example, cylindrical holes may be disposed on the fourth sub-groove wall1411and the fifth sub-groove wall1412, and a cylinder shaft is disposed on the second supporting component22, so that the shaft-hole fit is formed on the second supporting component22and the fourth sub-groove wall1411and the fifth sub-groove wall1412.

In addition, the display panel body30is attached to the supporting component20. When the second supporting component22rotates relative to the second housing portion12, the display panel body30is driven to rotate relative to the second housing portion12together. To ensure that the rotation of the second supporting component22does not exceed a groove wall height of the second groove14, heights of the fourth sub-groove wall1411, the fifth sub-groove wall1412, and the sixth sub-groove wall1413of the second groove14are all greater than a sum of thicknesses of the second supporting component22and the display panel body30.

When the supporting component20moves to the first position, the display panel100is in a bent state, and the supporting component20and the corresponding groove bottom are fitted, so that a first angle a is formed between the first supporting component21and the second supporting component22, and the first angle a is greater than 0 degree. Described in detail, the first housing portion11drives the first supporting component21to rotate, and the second housing portion12drives the second supporting component22to rotate. When the supporting component20moves to the first position, the first supporting component21and the first groove bottom132of the first groove13are fitted, and the second supporting component22and the second groove bottom142of the second groove14are fitted, so that the first angle a is formed between the first supporting component21and the second supporting component22. In this case, a void space is formed by the first supporting component21and the second supporting component22at a position close to a movement joint of the first housing portion11and the second housing portion12, to accommodate an extra portion of the display panel body30caused by bending, so that the display panel body30forms a wedge shape at the movement joint of the first housing portion11and the second housing portion12.

The display panel body30is attached to the first supporting component21and the second supporting component22, so that the display panel body30moves along with movement of the first supporting component21and the second supporting component22, and a movement path is different from a movement path between the first housing portion11and the second housing portion12. In this case, when the supporting component20moves to the first position, while ensuring that the display panel body30forms a wedge-shaped bending structure, the first housing portion11and the second housing portion12can be closed completely, so that there is no gap between the first housing portion11and the second housing portion12.

Referring toFIGS.1to6,FIG.6is a detailed diagram of a position relationship between a supporting component and a housing according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. When the supporting component20moves to the second position, the display panel body30is in a flat state, the housing10and the supporting component20are flat to cause the first housing portion11to be level with the second housing portion12, and a second angle is formed between the first supporting component21and the second supporting component22to support the display panel body30, wherein the second angle is 180 degrees, and the second angle is greater than the first angle a. Because the first groove bottom132of the first groove13of the first housing portion11is an inclined surface, when the supporting component20moves to the second position, a third angle b is formed between the first supporting component21and the first groove bottom132, so that there is a void space between the first supporting component21and the first groove bottom132. When the first supporting component21moves back and forth between the first position and the second position, the first supporting component21can swing back and forth in the void space. A magnitude of the third angle b is equal to a half of a magnitude of the first angle a, and the magnitude of the third angle b also reflects a slope size of the first groove bottom132to some extent. Further, the magnitude of the third angle b also depends on a size of a bending radius of the display panel body30, a relatively large third angle b may be set when the display panel body30has a relatively large bending radius.

Correspondingly, because the second groove bottom142of the second groove14of the second housing portion12is an inclined surface, when the supporting component20moves to the second position, a third angle b is formed between the second supporting component22and the second groove bottom142, so that there is a void space between the second supporting component22and the second groove bottom142. When the second supporting component22moves back and forth between the first position and the second position, the second supporting component22can swing back and forth in the void space. A magnitude of the third angle b is equal to a half of a magnitude of the first angle a, and the magnitude of the third angle b also reflects a slope size of the second groove bottom142to some extent. Further, the magnitude of the third angle b also depends on a size of a bending radius of the display panel body30, a relatively large third angle b may be set when the display panel body30has a relatively large bending radius.

In addition, to form the third angle b between the first supporting component21and the first groove bottom132and between the second supporting component22and the second groove bottom142, a limiting mechanism50is further required to be disposed at the movement joint of the first housing portion11and the second housing portion12. When the first supporting component21and the second supporting component22move to the second position, the limiting mechanism50can limit the first supporting component21and the second supporting component22, so that the first supporting component21and the first groove bottom132, and the second supporting component22and the second groove bottom142keep the third angle b.

An embodiment of the present disclosure further provides an electronic apparatus, including the display panel100in one of the above embodiments. The electronic apparatus includes electronic devices, such as a mobile phone, a tablet computer, and a wearable watch.

It may be learned from the above embodiments that:the present disclosure provides a display panel and an electronic apparatus. A housing in the display panel includes a first housing portion and a second housing portion movably connected to the first housing portion. A supporting component includes a first supporting component and a second supporting component, the first supporting component being movably connected to the first housing portion, and the second supporting component being movably connected to the second housing portion. A display panel body is attached to a side of the supporting component away from the housing, and the display panel body is configured to move along with movement of the supporting component. When the supporting component moves to a first position, the display panel body is in a bent state, the first housing portion and the second housing portion are fitted, and a first angle is formed between the first supporting component and the second supporting component to protect a bending portion formed by the display panel body. By making the display panel body move with the supporting component, it is different from the opening and closing movement of the housing, so that after the display panel is folded, the housing can be completely closed in appearance without leaving a gap, resolving a problem that there is a gap after a housing of a conventional inward-folding wedge-shaped display device is closed.

In the above embodiments, the descriptions of the embodiments have their respective focuses. For a part that is not described in detail in an embodiment, reference may be made to related descriptions in other embodiments.

The embodiments of the present disclosure are described above in detail. Although the principles and implementations of the present disclosure are described using detailed examples in the specification, the above descriptions of the embodiments are only intended to help understand the technical solutions and core idea of the present disclosure. It should be understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art that, modifications can be made to the technical solutions described in the above embodiments, or equivalent replacements can be made to some technical features in the technical solutions; and these modifications or replacements will not cause the essence of corresponding technical solutions to depart from the scope of the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present disclosure.