Display module and assembly method thereof

A display module and an assembly method thereof are provided. The display module includes a display region, at least one connection terminal, and a plurality of connective lines. The display region, the connection terminal, and the connective lines are disposed on a same flexible substrate. A plurality of pixels is arranged within the display region. The connection terminal is arranged at an extension portion of a non-display region of the flexible substrate. The connective lines respectively connect the pixels in the display region to the connection terminal at the extension portion. The connection terminal is connected to an external circuit for receiving signals and transmitting the same to the display region.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority benefit of Taiwan application serial no. 99130232, filed Sep. 7, 2010. The entirety of the above-mentioned patent application is hereby incorporated by reference herein and made a part of this specification.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosure relates to a display module and an assembly method thereof.

BACKGROUND

Many flexible electronic products, such as E-paper and flexible display, have been developed along with the increasing demand for small-sized and light-weighted electronic products. The flexibility of such electronic products allows them to be applied to many more different fields.

In existing display techniques, a display panel and external printed circuit board (PCB) are usually connected through the tape automated bonding (TAB), the chip on glass (COG), or the chip on film (COF) technique by thermal bonding with anisotropic conductive film (ACF).FIG. 1is a diagram illustrating the structure of a display panel and two external PCB connected through the TAB technique or the COF technique. Referring toFIG. 1, a display region110and a non-display region120are arranged on the display panel100. The display panel100is connected to an external PCB140through a COF unit130so that a circuit150(for example, a data line or scan line circuit for providing pixel signals) on the display panel100can be electrically connected to the external PCB140through the COF130.

In another display technique, a display panel with driver ICs is provided, wherein the driver ICs may be built in the panel through a system on panel (SOP) technique, or a driver IC chip may be bonded to the panel through a chip on panel (COP) technique.FIG. 2is a diagram illustrating the structure of a display panel and an external PCB connected through the COP technique. Referring toFIG. 2, a display region210and a non-display region220are arranged on the display panel200. The display panel200is connected to an external PCB240through a flexible printed circuit (FPC)230. At least one driver IC260is disposed in the non-display region220of the display panel200through the COP technique, and a plurality of connective lines250for supplying signals or power is connected to the external PCB240through the FPC230.

The structures described above, ether in COF or FPC example, both have a similar feature in which an additional flexible substrate other than that of the display panel is adopted and bonded onto the display panel in order to transmit electrical signals from external PCB to the display panel. Accordingly, the fabricating process is complicated and time-consuming, and the display panel is difficult to be replaced once it is bonded.

SUMMARY

A display module and an assembly method thereof are introduced herein.

The disclosure of a display module provides a flexible display panel including a plurality of pixels disposed within the display region, a plurality of connective lines, and at least one connection terminal. The display region, the connective lines, and the connection terminal are disposed on a same flexible substrate, and the connection terminal is arranged at an extension portion of a non-display region and electrically connected to at least one external circuit board, for receiving signals and transmitting the signals to the display region.

According to yet another exemplary embodiment of the disclosure, an assembly method of a display module provides a flexible display panel. In the assembly method, a flexible display panel having a display region, a connection terminal, and a plurality of connective lines is provided, wherein the display region, the connection terminal, and the connective lines are disposed on a first surface of a same flexible substrate. The flexible substrate has a first-side non-display region and a second-side non-display region, wherein the first-side non-display region and the second-side non-display region are arranged at two adjacent sides of the display region. The connective lines include a first-side connective line and a second-side connective line for respectively connecting pixels within the display region. The connection terminal is connected to an external circuit board. An extension portion is formed at the first-side non-display region, wherein one end of the extension portion is connected to a main body of the flexible display panel, and another end thereof is the connection terminal. The first-side non-display region and the second-side non-display region are folded backwards along two edges of the display region and pressed to a second surface of the flexible substrate, wherein the second surface is the wrong side of the first surface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DISCLOSED EMBODIMENTS

An embodiment provides a flexible display panel including a display region, a connection terminal, and a plurality of connective lines, wherein the display region, the connection terminal, and the connective lines are disposed on a same flexible substrate. A plurality of pixels is arranged within the display region. The connection terminal is arranged at an extension portion of a non-display region of the flexible display panel. The connective lines respectively connect the pixels in the display region to the connection terminal at the extension portion. The connection terminal is connected to an external circuit (for example, a printed circuit board (PCB)) for receiving driving signals, which may include scan signals and data signals, and transmitting the same to the display region.

Another embodiment provides a flexible display panel including a display region, a connection terminal, a signal control region, and a plurality of connective lines, wherein the display region, the signal control region, the connection terminal, and the connective lines are disposed on a same flexible substrate. A plurality of pixels is arranged within the display region. The connection terminal is arranged at an extension portion of a non-display region of the flexible display panel. The signal control region having a plurality of driver integrated circuits (driver-ICs) is arranged at least one side of the display region, and which receives controlling signals from an external circuit through the connective lines and the connection terminal and drives the pixels within the display region.

In an exemplary embodiment, the connection terminal is connected to the external circuit (for example, a PCB) in a removable manner. Namely, the flexible display panel and the external PCB may be connected through a connector. In another exemplary embodiment, the connection terminal may also be connected to the external circuit through a thermal bonding technique by using solder, conductive paste, or an anisotropic conductive film (ACF). The flexible display panel is connected to the external PCB only through the connection terminal.

In an exemplary embodiment, the flexible substrate has a slit, and a strip-shaped bendable extension portion is formed at the sides of the non-display region, wherein one end of the strip-shaped extension portion is connected to a main body of the flexible display panel, and another end thereof is the connection terminal used for connecting to the external PCB. The shape, size, and bended position of the strip-shaped extension portion are determined according to the requirements in the module design of the flexible display panel.

In another exemplary embodiment, an assembly method of a flexible display panel is provided. In the assembly method, first, a flexible display panel having a display region, a connection terminal, and a plurality of connective lines is provided. The display region, the connection terminal, and the connective lines are disposed on a first surface of a same flexible substrate. The flexible substrate has a first-side non-display region and a second-side non-display region, wherein the first-side non-display region and the second-side non-display region are arranged at two adjacent sides of the display region. The connective lines include a first-side connective line and a second-side connective line for respectively connecting pixels in the display region to the connection terminal.

Then, a slit is formed on the first-side non-display region so as to form a strip-shaped bendable extension portion, wherein one end of the strip-shaped extension portion is connected to the main body of the flexible display panel, and the other end thereof is the connection terminal. The first-side connective line and the second-side connective line are both ran into the connection terminal. The shape, size, and bended position of the strip-shaped extension portion are determined according to the requirements in the module design of the flexible display panel.

Next, the first-side non-display region and the second-side non-display region are folded backwards along two edges of the display region and pressed to a second surface of the flexible substrate, wherein the second surface is the wrong side of the first surface.

Thereafter, the connection terminal is connected to an external PCB for receiving driving signals and transmitting the same to the display region. The display region and/or a small frame are substantially kept on one surface of the flexible display panel.

In another exemplary embodiment, an assembly method of a flexible display panel is provided. In the assembly method, first, a flexible display panel having a display region, a connection terminal, and a plurality of connective lines is provided. The display region, the connection terminal, and the connective lines are disposed on a first surface of a same flexible substrate. The flexible substrate has a first-side non-display region and a second-side non-display region, wherein the first-side non-display region and the second-side non-display region are arranged at two adjacent sides of the display region. The first-side non-display region and the second-side non-display region are extended along two sides of the display region, and a corner partition space is formed between the first-side non-display region and the second-side non-display region. The connective lines are respectively disposed within the first-side non-display region and the second-side non-display region and include a first-side connective line and a second-side connective line for respectively connecting pixels in the display region to the connection terminal.

Then, a slit is formed on the first-side non-display region so as to form a strip-shaped bendable extension portion, wherein one end of the strip-shaped extension portion is connected to the main body of the flexible display panel, and the other end thereof is the connection terminal. The shape, size, and bended position of the strip-shaped extension portion are determined according to the requirements in the module design of the flexible display panel.

Thereafter, the first-side non-display region and the second-side non-display region are folded backwards along two edges of the display region and pressed to a second surface of the flexible substrate, wherein the second surface is the wrong side of the first surface.

Next, a connection pad is provided to align and connect the second-side connective line in the second-side non-display region to a portion of the first-side connective line in the first-side non-display region, so that the second-side connective line can be ran into the connection terminal through the portion of the first-side connective line.

After that, the connection terminal is connected to an external PCB to receive driving signals and transmit the same to the display region. The display region and/or a small frame are substantially kept on a surface of the flexible display panel.

In another exemplary embodiment, an assembly method of a flexible display panel is provided. In the assembly method, first, a flexible display panel having a display region, a signal control region having driver-ICs thereon, a connection terminal, and a plurality of connective lines is provided. The display region, the signal control region, the connection terminal, and the connective lines are disposed on a first surface of a same flexible substrate. The flexible substrate has a first-side non-display region and a second-side non-display region, wherein the first-side non-display region and the second-side non-display region are arranged at two adjacent sides of the display region. The first-side non-display region and the second-side non-display region are extended along two sides of the display region, and a corner partition space is formed between the first-side non-display region and the second-side non-display region. A first signal control region and a second signal control region are respectively arranged in the first-side non-display region and the second-side non-display region. The connective lines are respectively disposed in the first-side non-display region and the second-side non-display region and include a first-side connective line and a second-side connective line for respectively electrically connecting the connection terminal with the first signal control region and the second signal control region.

Then, a slit is formed on the first-side non-display region to form a strip-shaped bendable extension portion, wherein one end of the strip-shaped extension portion is connected to the main body of the flexible display panel, and the other end thereof is the connection terminal. The shape, size, and bended position of the strip-shaped extension portion are determined according to the requirements in the module design of the flexible display panel.

Thereafter, the first-side non-display region and the second-side non-display region are folded backwards along two edges of the display region and pressed to a second surface of the flexible substrate, wherein the second surface is the wrong side of the first surface.

Next, a connection pad is provided to align and connect the second-side connective line in the second-side non-display region to a portion of the first-side connective line in the first-side non-display region, so that the second-side connective line can be ran into the connection terminal through the portion of the first-side connective line.

After that, the connection terminal is connected to an external PCB to receive controlling signals and transmit the same to the first signal control region and the second signal control region, so that the display region can be controlled according to the driving signals to display images.

In an exemplary embodiment, the connection terminal is connected to the external PCB in a removable manner. Namely, the flexible display panel and the external PCB are connected through a connector. In another exemplary embodiment, the connection terminal may also be connected to the external PCB through thermal bonding by using solder, conductive paste, or an ACF. The flexible display panel is connected to the external PCB only through the connection terminal.

In other embodiments, the flexible display panel may have a plurality of connection terminals respectively connected to different positions on the external PCB.

Below, exemplary embodiments of the flexible display panel and the assembly method thereof will be described with reference to accompanying drawings. However, these exemplary embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure.

FIG. 3Ais a diagram of a flexible display panel according to an exemplary embodiment. Referring toFIG. 3A, the flexible display panel is formed on a flexible substrate300, and which has a display region310and a non-display region320. In an embodiment, the flexible substrate300may be made of a high molecular material (for example, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethersulfone (PES), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), or polyimide (PI), etc) or a metal material (for example, aluminum, copper, silver, or stainless steel, etc). A plurality of pixels is arranged within the display region310. The non-display region320of the flexible display panel further includes a plurality of signal control regions330and332, a connection terminal326, and two groups of connective lines340and342. In the exemplary embodiment, the non-display region320has a slit324, and a strip-shaped bendable extension portion322is formed at the sides of the non-display region320, wherein one end of the strip-shaped extension portion322is connected to the main body of the flexible display panel on the flexible substrate300, and the connected portion has a length D, as shown inFIG. 3A. The shape, size, and bended position of the strip-shaped extension portion322can be determined according to the requirements in the module design of the flexible display panel. Besides, the other end of the strip-shaped extension portion322is the connection terminal326for connecting to an external PCB. Image data processing, timing control, and power conversion circuits are disposed on the external PCB.

The signal control regions330and332respectively have driver-ICs and the corresponding connective lines340and342. The connective lines340and342include circuits for supplying signals and power, and which respectively electrically connect a driver IC in the signal control regions330and332to the pixel units in the display region310and the connection terminal326, so that the driver IC in the signal control regions330and332can receive controlling signals from the external PCB and drive the pixels in the display region310.

In the exemplary embodiment, the flexible substrate300includes one connection terminal326, while in another embodiment, the flexible substrate300may also include a plurality of connection terminals. The connection terminal326may be connected to the external PCB in a removable manner. Namely, the flexible display panel and the external PCB may be connected through a connector. In another exemplary embodiment, the connection terminal326may also be bonded to the external PCB by using a conductive bonding material, such as solder, conductive paste, or an ACF. The flexible display panel is connected to the external PCB only through the connection terminal326. In another different embodiment, the flexible display panel may have two connection terminals (for example, one connection terminal corresponding to scan lines, and another connection terminal corresponding to data lines) respectively connected to different positions on the external PCB.

The driver ICs in the signal control regions330and332include data driver IC and scan driver IC. The data driver IC may be a source driver IC which arranges data input, offers high frequency, and drives the pixels to display images. The scan driver IC may be a gate driver IC and used for controlling the input of data. The driver IC in the signal control regions330and332may be disposed on the flexible display panel through a system on panel (SOP) technique or a chip on panel (COP) technique.

The pixel units in the display region310may be composed of an organic light emitting diode (OLED) layer, a liquid crystal display (LCD) layer, a cholesteric liquid crystal display (ChLCD) layer, an electrophoretic display (EPD) layer, an electrowetting display (EWD) layer, an electrochromic display (ECD) layer, and a quick response liquid-powder display (QR-LPD) layer or may be other display units that can be disposed on the flexible substrate. The pixel units are driven through a passive matrix (PM), an active matrix (AM), or a segmented driving technique.

FIG. 3Bis a diagram illustrating another embodiment of the strip-shaped extension portion of the flexible display panel illustrated inFIG. 3A. Referring toFIG. 3B, the shape, size, and bended position of the strip-shaped extension portion322can be determined according to the requirements in the module design of the flexible display panel. Besides, the other end of the strip-shaped extension portion322is connected to the connection terminal326for connecting the connection terminal326to an external PCB.

FIG. 3Cis a diagram of a flexible display panel according to another exemplary embodiment. This flexible display panel has a structure similar to that illustrated inFIG. 3A, wherein like elements and regions are denoted with like reference numerals and will not be described herein. The difference between the two flexible display panels is that the signal control region (i.e., the data driver IC and the scan driver IC) may be omitted in the flexible display panel illustrated inFIG. 3C. The pixel units in the display region310are directly connected to the connection terminal326respectively through the connective lines340and342, and the connection terminal326directly receives scan and data signals from the external PCB, which has one or more driver ICs thereon, and drives the pixels in the display region310to display images according to these signals.

FIG. 3Dis a diagram of a flexible display panel according to yet another exemplary embodiment. This flexible display panel has a structure similar to that illustrated inFIG. 3C, wherein like elements are denoted with like reference numerals and will not be described herein. The difference between the flexible display panel and that illustrated inFIG. 3Cis that slits324aand324bare formed respectively corresponding to the connective lines342and340, and data signals and driving signals are received from the external PCB through the connection terminal326aand the connection terminal326bfor driving pixels in the display region310to display images. Preferably, in the embodiment, the connection terminals326aand the326bare bonded to the external PCB.

FIG. 4is a diagram of a flexible display panel according to another exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. The flexible display panel is formed on a flexible substrate400and includes a display region410and a non-display region420. A plurality of pixels is arranged within the display region410. The non-display region420of the flexible display panel further includes a plurality of signal control regions430and432, a connection region426, and two groups of connective lines440and442. A strip-shaped bendable extension portion422is formed at a corner of the non-display region420, wherein one end of the strip-shaped extension portion422is connected to the main body of the flexible display panel on the flexible substrate400, and the other end of the strip-shaped extension portion422is connected to the connection terminal426for connecting the connection terminal426to an external PCB.

Along with the increase in the size and the improvement in the display quality of display panels, requirements to driving ability and operation frequency of driver ICs have been increasingly produced. Thus, a technique of disposing different driver ICs respectively at three or four sides of a display panel is provided to improve the driving ability and operation frequency or to satisfy other design requirements. For example, a data driver IC is respectively disposed at the upper and lower sides, and a scan driver IC is respectively disposed at the left and right sides. Please refer toFIG. 5for an example of such design.

FIG. 5is a diagram of a flexible display panel according to an exemplary embodiment. Referring toFIG. 5, the flexible display panel is formed on a flexible substrate500and includes a display region510and a non-display region520. A plurality of pixels is arranged within the display region510. The non-display region520of the flexible display panel further includes a plurality of signal control regions (for example, the signal control regions530,532,534, and536inFIG. 5), a connection terminal526, and four groups of connective lines (for example, the connective lines540,542,544, and546inFIG. 5). In the exemplary embodiment, the non-display region520has a slit524, and a strip-shaped bendable extension portion522is formed at the sides of the non-display region520, wherein one end of the strip-shaped extension portion522is connected to the main body of the flexible display panel on the flexible substrate500. The shape, size, and bended position of the strip-shaped extension portion522can be determined according to the requirements in the module design of the flexible display panel. Besides, the other end of the strip-shaped extension portion522is connected to the connection terminal526for connecting the connection terminal526to an external PCB.

The signal control regions530,532,534, and536respectively have the connective lines540,542,544, and546. The connective lines540,542,544, and546respectively electrically connect the driver ICs in the signal control regions530,532,534, and536to the pixel units in the display region510and the connection terminal526so that the driver ICs in the signal control regions530,532,534, and536can receive controlling signals and power supply from the external PCB and drive the pixels in the display region510.

In an exemplary embodiment, the connection terminal526may be connected to the external PCB in a removable manner. Namely, the flexible display panel and the external PCB are connected through a connector. In another exemplary embodiment, the connection terminal526may also be bonded to the external PCB by using a conductive bonding material, such as solder, conductive paste, or an ACF. The flexible display panel is connected to the external PCB only through the connection terminal526. In different exemplary embodiments, the flexible display panel may have two or more connection regions respectively connected to different positions of the external PCB.

The driver ICs in the signal control regions530,532,534, and536may include data driver ICs and scan driver ICs. The driver ICs in the signal control regions530,532,534, and536may be disposed on the flexible display panel through a SOP technique or a COP technique.

The pixel units in the display region510may be composed of an OLED layer, a LCD layer, a ChLCD layer, an EPD layer, an EWD layer, an ECD layer, and a QR-LPD layer or may be other display units that can be disposed on the flexible substrate.

An assembly method is provided regarding the flexible display panel illustrated inFIG. 5. The non-display region520around the display region510is folded backwards along the edges of the display region510and pressed onto the rear surface of the flexible substrate500. Then, the connection terminal526is connected to a PCB for receiving controlling signals and transmitting the same to the display region. In an embodiment, the PCB is attached onto the rear surface of the flexible display panel to constitute a display panel module, and only the display region and/or a small frame are substantially kept on one side of the assembled display module. Such a frameless or narrow-framed design effectively increases the display area of the entire display or brings an aesthetic feeling to the appearance of the display.

FIG. 6Ais a diagram of a flexible display panel and assembly thereof according to an exemplary embodiment. Referring toFIG. 6A, the flexible display panel is formed on a flexible substrate600and includes a display region610and a non-display region620. A plurality of pixels is arranged within the display region610. The non-display region620of the flexible display panel further include a plurality of signal control regions630and632, a connection terminal626, and three groups of connective lines640A,640B, and642. In the exemplary embodiment, the non-display region620includes a first-side non-display region621and a second-side non-display region623.

The first-side non-display region621and the second-side non-display region623are arranged at two adjacent sides of the display region610, and a corner partition space625is formed between the first-side non-display region621and the second-side non-display region623. Such an arrangement allows the corners to be neatly pressed to the rear surface of the flexible substrate600when the first-side non-display region621and the second-side non-display region623are folded backwards along the edges of the display region610.

A slit628is formed in the second-side non-display region623, and a strip-shaped bendable extension portion622is formed at the sides of the second-side non-display region623, wherein one end of the strip-shaped extension portion622is connected to the main body of the second-side non-display region623. The shape, size, and bended position of the strip-shaped extension portion622can be determined according to the requirements in the module design of the flexible display panel. Besides, the other end of the strip-shaped extension portion622is connected to the connection terminal626for connecting the connection terminal626to an external PCB.

Such a layout allows the signal control region632in the second-side non-display region623to be electrically connected to the connection terminal626through the connective lines642. However, because the first-side non-display region621and the second-side non-display region623are separated by a corner partition space625, the signal control region630in the first-side non-display region621cannot be electrically connected to the connection terminal626through the connective lines640A. Thus, another connective lines640B has to be disposed in the second-side non-display region623. When the first-side non-display region621and the second-side non-display region623are folded backwards along the edges of the display region610and pressed to the rear surface of the flexible substrate600, the connective lines640A and the connective line640B are connected through an electrical connection structure.

Aforementioned electrical connection structure may be a connection pad structure, as illustrated inFIG. 6B.FIG. 6Bis a diagram illustrating a connection pad structure for electrically connecting internal circuits when the first-side non-display region and the second-side non-display region are folded backwards along the edges of the display region and pressed to the rear surface of the flexible substrate. As shown inFIG. 6B, in the embodiment, the connection pad structure650is composed of an insulation layer652, a conductive bridge654, and an ACF656that are stacked together. The connective lines640A and the connective lines640B are electrically bonded together by using the ACF656. In an embodiment, the connection pad structure650may also be connected by using solder.

In another embodiment, the corner partition space is not disposed, and the connective lines640A and the connective lines640B are directly connected to the flexible substrate600so that the connection pad structure is not needed. However, when the first-side non-display region621and the second-side non-display region623are folded backwards along the edges of the display region610and pressed to the rear surface of the flexible substrate600, the connective lines at the corners should be insulation reinforced to prevent any short circuit from being produced at the folded portions.

The connective lines640A and640B are corresponding to the signal control region630, and the connective lines642is corresponding to the signal control region632. The driver ICs in the signal control regions630and632are electrically connected to the pixel units in the display region610and the connection terminal626through the connective lines640A,640B, and642, and the connection terminal626is electrically connected to a connection port662of a PCB660. Such a structure allows the driver ICs in the signal control regions630and632to receive controlling signals from the PCB660and drive the pixels in the display region610.

In an exemplary embodiment, the connection terminal626is electrically connected to the connection port662of the PCB660in a removable manner. Namely, the flexible display panel and the external PCB are connected through a connector. In another exemplary embodiment, the connection terminal626may also be electrically bonded to the connection port662of the PCB660by using a conductive bonding material, such as solder, conductive paste, or an ACF. The flexible display panel is connected to the PCB660only through the connection terminal626.

The driver ICs in the signal control regions630and632may include data driver ICs and scan driver ICs. The data driver ICs may be source driver ICs which arrange data input, offer high frequency, and drive the pixels to display images. The scan driver ICs may be gate driver ICs which control the input of data. The driver ICs in the signal control regions630and632are disposed on the flexible display panel through a SOP or a COP technique.

The display region610may be composed of an OLED layer, a LCD layer, a ChLCD layer, an EPD layer, an EWD layer, an ECD layer, and a QR-LPD layer or may be other display units that can be disposed on the flexible substrate.

FIG. 6Cis a diagram of a flexible display panel according to another exemplary embodiment. This flexible display panel has a structure similar to that illustrated inFIG. 6A, where like elements are denoted with like reference numerals and will not be described herein. The difference between the two flexible display panels is that the flexible display panel inFIG. 6Chas no signal control region (i.e., the driver ICs, such as data driver ICs and scan driver ICs), the pixel units in the display region610are directly connected to the connection terminal626respectively through the connective lines640A,640B, and642, and data signals and driving signals are directly received from the external PCB, which has one or more driver ICs disposed thereon, for controlling the pixels in the display region610to display images.

Different driver ICs may be respectively disposed at four sides of the flexible display panel in order to improve the driving ability and operation frequency. For example, a data driver IC is respectively disposed at the upper and the lower sides, and a scan driver IC is respectively disposed at the left and right sides. An exemplary embodiment of the frameless display panel illustrated inFIG. 6Awith four driver ICs will be described below with reference toFIG. 7A.

FIG. 7Ais a diagram of a flexible display panel according to an exemplary embodiment. Referring toFIG. 7A, the flexible display panel is formed on a flexible substrate700and includes a display region710and a non-display region720. A plurality of pixels is arranged within the display region710. The non-display region720of the flexible substrate700further includes a plurality of signal control regions (for example, the signal control regions730,732,734, and736inFIG. 7A), a connection terminal726, and a plurality of connective lines (for example, the conductive lines740A,740B,742,744B,744C,746A,746B, and746D inFIG. 7A).

The non-display region720includes a first-side non-display region720A, a second-side non-display region720B, a third-side non-display region720C, and a fourth-side non-display region720D arranged at four sides of the display region710. A corner partition space is formed at each adjacent side. Such an arrangement allows the corners to be neatly pressed to the rear surface of the flexible substrate700when these non-display regions are folded backwards along the edges of the display region710.

In the exemplary embodiment, a slit724is formed in the second-side non-display region720B, and a strip-shaped bendable extension portion722is formed at the sides of the second-side non-display region720B, wherein one end of the strip-shaped extension portion722is connected to the main body of the flexible display panel on the flexible substrate700. The shape, size, and bended position of the strip-shaped extension portion722can be determined according to the requirements in the module design of the flexible display panel. Besides, the other end of the strip-shaped extension portion722is connected to the connection terminal726for connecting the connection terminal726to the external PCB.

The signal control region732in the second-side non-display region720B is electrically connected to the connection terminal726through the connective lines742. However, because the first-side non-display region720A, the third-side non-display region720C, the fourth-side non-display region720D, and the second-side non-display region720B are electrically separated from each other by corner partition spaces, the circuit layout thereof has to be adjusted. As shown inFIG. 7A, the fourth-side non-display region720D is electrically connected to the connection terminal726sequentially through the connective lines746D,746A, and746B. Besides, the first-side non-display region720A is electrically connected to the connection terminal726sequentially through the connective lines740A and740B, and the third-side non-display region720C is electrically connected to the connection terminal726sequentially through the connective lines744C and744B.

The electrical connection structure described above may be a connection pad structure, as illustrated inFIG. 7B.FIG. 7Bis a diagram illustrating a connection pad structure for electrically connecting internal circuits when the first to the fourth non-display regions are folded backwards along the edges of the display region and pressed to the rear surface of the flexible substrate. As shown inFIG. 7B, the connection pads750A,750B, and750C in the embodiment have the same structure as illustrated inFIG. 6Band are composed of an insulation layer, a conductive bridge, and an ACF that are stacked together. The connective lines in different non-display regions are electrically connected through the ACF. The connection terminal726is electrically connected to the connection port762of the PCB760. Such a structure allows the driver ICs in the signal control regions730,732,734, and736to receive controlling signals from the PCB760and drive the pixels in the display region710to display images according to these signals.

In another embodiment, the corner partition space is not disposed. Instead, the connective lines740A and the connective lines740B are directly connected on the flexible substrate700, the connective lines744B and the connective lines744C are directly connected on the flexible substrate700, and the connective lines746A, the connective lines746B, and the connective lines746D are directly connected on the flexible substrate700. Thus, the connection pad structure can be omitted. However, when the first-side non-display region720A, the second-side non-display region720B, the third-side non-display region720C, and the fourth-side non-display region720D are folded backwards along the edges of the display region710and pressed to the rear surface of the flexible substrate700, the connective lines at the corners need to be insulation reinforced to prevent any short circuit from being produced at the folded parts.

In an exemplary embodiment, the connection terminal726is electrically connected to the connection port762of the PCB760in a removable manner. Namely, the flexible display panel and the external PCB are connected through a connector. In another exemplary embodiment, the flexible display panel and the external PCB may also be bonded together by using solder, conductive paste, or an ACF. The flexible display panel is connected to the PCB760only through the connection terminal726.

The driver ICs in the signal control regions730,732,734, and736may include data driver ICs, scan driver ICs or other circuits. The data driver ICs may be source driver ICs which arrange data input, offer high frequency, and drive pixels to display images. The scan driver ICs may be gate driver ICs for controlling the input of data. The driver ICs in the signal control regions730,732,734, and736may be disposed on the flexible display panel through a SOP technique or a COP technique.

The pixel units in the display region710may be composed of an OLED layer, a LCD layer, a ChLCD layer, an EPD layer, an EWD layer, an ECD layer, and a QR-LPD layer or may be other display units that can be disposed on the flexible substrate.

FIG. 7Cis a diagram of a flexible display panel according to another exemplary embodiment. This flexible display panel has a structure similar to that illustrated inFIG. 7A, wherein like elements are denoted with like reference numerals and will not be described herein. The difference between the two flexible display panels is that a portion of the signal control regions (i.e., the data driver ICs and scan driver ICs) are omitted in the flexible display panel illustrated inFIG. 7C, the pixel units in the display region710are partially directly connected to the connection terminal726respectively through the connective lines, and data signals and driving signals are directly received from the PCB, which has corresponding driver ICs disposed thereon, for driving the pixels in the display region710to display images.