Flexible display substrate, display panel and display device having a crack stopping component

A flexible display substrate includes a flexible substrate and an insulation layer on the flexible substrate. The flexible substrate includes a display area and a non-display area surrounding the display area. A crack stopping component is on the insulation layer in the non-display area, and configured to stop a crack in the non-display area from extending to the display area.

This application is a National Stage of International Application No. PCT/CN2018/109354, filed Oct. 8, 2018, which claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 201711307262.2, filed Dec. 11, 2017, both of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.

FIELD

This disclosure relates to the field of display technologies, and particularly to a flexible display substrate, a display panel and a display device.

BACKGROUND

At present, an Organic Light-Emitting Diode (OLED) device is considered as a flat panel display with greatest development potential, and is also considered as a display with a technology most likely to manufacture a flexible display device.

Where an existing flexible display substrate generally includes a flexible substrate with a display area, an OLED component positioned in the display area of the flexible substrate, and an encapsulation layer covering the OLED component; where the encapsulation layer generally includes a plurality of stacked organic layers and inorganic layers, and the inorganic layers function as barriers for proofing water and oxygen, and the organic layers function as planarization layers.

However, when the existing flexible display substrate is subjected to a cutting process, or is bent or curled during subsequent use, cracks are easily produced in an edge of the flexible display substrate due to stress concentration in the vicinity of a cut surface; and when the cracks extend to the display area, water and oxygen may enter the display area through the cracks, which will negatively affect a service life of the flexible display substrate.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the disclosure provide following technical solutions.

A flexible display substrate, including a flexible substrate and an insulation layer on the flexible substrate, where the flexible substrate includes a display area and a non-display area surrounding the display area; where a crack stopping component is on the insulation layer in the non-display area, and configured to stop a crack in the non-display area from extending to the display area.

Optionally, the crack stopping component includes at least one stopper group, where each of the at least one stopper group includes a plurality of stoppers distributed at intervals along a circumferential direction of the display area.

Optionally, the crack stopping component is on one side, two sides or three sides of the display area, or is around the entire display area.

Optionally, when the crack stopping component includes at least two stopper groups, the at least two stopper groups are arranged in parallel along a direction from the display area to the non-display area.

Optionally, every two adjacent stopper groups in the at least two stopper groups include a first stopper group and a second stopper group; the first stopper group includes a plurality of first stoppers, and a first gap exists between every two adjacent first stoppers; the second stopper group includes a plurality of second stoppers, and a second gap exists between every two adjacent second stoppers; where the first gap and the second gap are arranged in a staggered manner.

Optionally, each of the first stoppers and the second stoppers is a cuboid or a wavy solid, and a length extension direction of the cuboid or the wavy solid is consistent with an arrangement direction of the first stoppers.

Optionally, the first stopper group further includes a third stopper in the first gap, and a length extension direction of the third stopper is perpendicular to a length extension direction of the first stoppers.

Optionally, the second stopper group further includes a fourth stopper in the second gap, and a length extension direction of the fourth stopper is perpendicular to a length extension direction of the second stoppers.

Optionally, a length extension direction of each stopper in each stopper group has an included angle with an arrangement direction of the plurality of stoppers in the stopper group.

Optionally, every two adjacent stopper groups in the at least two stopper groups include a third stopper group and a fourth stopper group; the third stopper group includes a plurality of fifth stoppers, and a length extension direction of each fifth stopper has an included angle with an arrangement direction of the plurality of fifth stoppers; and the fourth stopper group includes a plurality of sixth stoppers, and a length extension direction of each sixth stopper coincides with an arrangement direction of the plurality of sixth stoppers.

Optionally, the crack stopping component includes at least two stopper groups, and the at least two stopper groups are fabricated on a same layer as a gate metal layer, and/or, a source and drain metal layer.

Optionally, the insulation layer includes a buffer layer, a gate insulation layer, or, a source and drain insulation layer.

Optionally, the flexible display substrate further includes at least one annular blocking wall on a side of the crack stopping component away from the display area, and/or, at least one blocking dam on a side of the crack stopping component proximate to the display area.

Further, the embodiments of the disclosure further provide a display panel, which includes any flexible display substrate provided in the above technical solutions.

The embodiments of the disclosure further provide a display device, which includes the display panel provided in the above technical solutions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The technical solutions according to the embodiments of the disclosure will be described below clearly and fully with reference to the drawings in the embodiments of the disclosure, and apparently the embodiments described below are only a part but not all of the embodiments of the disclosure. Based upon the embodiments here of the disclosure, all the other embodiments which can occur to those skilled in the art without any inventive effort shall fall into the scope of the disclosure.

The embodiments of the disclosure provide a flexible display substrate, a display panel and a display device. Here, both of the display panel and the display device include the flexible display substrate above, and the flexible display substrate above can solve the problem that water and oxygen enter an OLED component to negatively affect a service life of a flexible display substrate.

Where, as illustrated inFIG. 1,FIG. 2andFIG. 3, the embodiments of the disclosure provide a flexible display substrate1including a flexible substrate11, and, an insulation layer and an encapsulation layer13arranged in that order on the flexible substrate11, where the flexible substrate11includes a display area and a non-display area surrounding the display area. As illustrated inFIG. 2, the flexible display substrate1includes the flexible substrate11, a light emitting layer on a side of the flexible substrate11, respective insulation layers at a peripheral area of the light emitting layer, and the encapsulation layer13configured to encapsulate the light emitting layer and the respective insulation layers. Further, a base substrate can be arranged between the flexible substrate11and the light emitting layer; the encapsulation layer13can include an inorganic layer and an organic layer (not illustrated in the figure); the respective insulation layers can include a buffer layer121, a gate insulation layer and a source and drain insulation layer124; the light emitting layer can be of an OLED structure; the gate insulation layer can include a first gate insulation layer122and a second gate insulation layer123arranged in a stacked manner; the encapsulation layer13can include a first encapsulation layer131and a second encapsulation layer132arranged in a stacked manner; and the first encapsulation layer131and the second encapsulation layer132can be inorganic encapsulation layers.

In the embodiments of the disclosure, the crack stopping component is on the buffer layer121, the first gate insulation layer122, the second gate insulation layer123or the source and drain insulation layer124, corresponding to the non-display area, and the crack stopping component is configured to stop a crack in the non-display area from extending to the display area. As illustrated inFIG. 1andFIG. 2, the crack stopping component is on the insulation layer in a peripheral area of the light emitting layer, the crack stopping component consists of at least one stopper group14, and each stopper group14includes a plurality of stoppers distributed at intervals along a circumferential direction of the display area. For example, as illustrated inFIG. 1, a first stopper group141includes a plurality of first stoppers1411distributed at intervals along the circumferential direction of the display area, and a second stopper group142includes a plurality of second stoppers1421distributed at intervals along the circumferential direction of the display area. Further, as illustrated inFIG. 1, the crack stopping component can consist of five stopper groups14arranged in parallel along a direction from the display area to the non-display area; or the crack stopping component can consist of six stopper groups14arranged in parallel along the direction from the display area to the non-display area as illustrated inFIG. 3; or the crack stopping component can also consist of four stopper groups14arranged in parallel along the direction from the display area to the non-display area as illustrated inFIG. 4. Alike, the crack stopping component can also consist of one stopper group14, two stopper groups14, three stopper groups14, seven stopper groups14or even more stopper groups14, where each stopper group14includes a plurality of stoppers distributed at intervals along the circumferential direction of the display area, and a plurality of stopper groups14can form blocking walls arranged nested in multiple layers.

In a procedure of using the flexible display substrate1, in case of a crack is produced in the non-display area of the flexible display substrate1, since the crack stopping component is on the insulation layer, corresponding to the non-display area, of the flexible display substrate1, when the crack produced in an edge of the non-display area by the flexible substrate11or the insulation layer extends to the crack stopping component, the crack cannot pass through the crack stopping component to extend further. Therefore, by adopting the crack stopping component, the flexible display substrate1can stop the crack of the non-display area from extending to the display area and can limit the crack in the non-display area, thus external water and oxygen can be stopped from entering the display area through the crack, and strength of the non-display area of the flexible display substrate1can also be strengthened through the crack stopping component. Therefore, in the flexible display substrate1, the crack produced in the non-display area can be limited in the non-display area by the crack stopping component, and thereby cannot extend to the display area.

Thus, with the crack stopping component, the flexible display substrate1above can address the problem that water and oxygen enter the OLED component to negatively affect a service life of a flexible display substrate.

In a particular implementation, as illustrated inFIG. 2toFIG. 9, the crack stopping component can include at least one stopper group14, where each stopper group14includes a plurality of stoppers distributed at intervals along the circumferential direction of the display area. As illustrated inFIG. 2, the crack stopping component includes five stopper groups14arranged in parallel along a direction from the display area to the non-display area, and gaps exist between adjacent stoppers in each stopper group14, so that the plurality of stoppers form a separated structure, and stress in each direction surrounding the display area of the flexible display substrate1can be dispersed to prevent a crack from occurring due to a phenomenon of stress concentration, thereby facilitating bending of the flexible display substrate1in each direction. Further, as illustrated inFIG. 3, the crack stopping component of the flexible display substrate1includes six stopper groups14arranged in parallel, while the crack stopping component in each ofFIG. 4,FIG. 5,FIG. 6,FIG. 7,FIG. 8andFIG. 9includes four stopper groups14. However, the crack stopping component does not have a limited number of stopper groups14as illustrated inFIG. 1toFIG. 9, and can also consist of one stopper group14, two stopper groups14, or more stopper groups14such as three stopper groups14and seven stopper groups14. And when the crack stopping component includes a plurality of stopper groups14, the plurality of stopper groups14can form blocking walls arranged nested in multiple layers, and the arrangement of the plurality of stopper groups14can enhance the bending resistance of the flexible display substrate1in the non-display area and can also stop the crack produced in the peripheral area of the flexible display substrate1or the crack produced in the non-display area of the flexible display substrate1from extending to the display area.

In a particular implementation, the crack stopping component is in one side edge of the display area only, or is surrounding two or three side edges of the display area, or is surrounding the entire display area; where the specific design can be determined according to an actual demand.

In a particular implementation, in order to improve a crack extension stopping effect of the crack stopping component, as illustrated inFIG. 1,FIG. 3andFIG. 4, every two adjacent stopper groups14in at least two stopper groups14include a first stopper group141and a second stopper group142; where the first stopper group141includes a plurality of first stoppers1411, and a first gap S1exists between every two adjacent first stoppers1411; the second stopper group142includes a plurality of second stoppers1421, and a second gap S2exists between every two adjacent second stoppers1421; and the first gap S1and the second gap S2are arranged in a staggered manner.

As illustrated inFIG. 3andFIG. 4, in every two adjacent stopper groups14, the first gaps S1between adjacent first stoppers1411in the first stopper group141and the second gaps S2between adjacent second stoppers1421in the second stopper group142are arranged in the staggered manner; when the crack is produced in the edge of the flexible display substrate1and extends to the display area, the crack may continue extending to the second stoppers1421when extending to the first gaps S1between the first stoppers1411, and in such case, since the flexible display substrate1is structurally strengthened by the second stoppers1421opposite to the first gaps S1, the crack can be stopped by the second stoppers1421to thereby avoid it from further extending to the display area. Therefore, with the plurality of stopper groups14arranged in the staggered manner, the flexible display substrate1can be structurally strengthened, and the crack stopping effect of the crack stopping component is improved.

As illustrated inFIG. 1andFIG. 3, each of the first stoppers1411and the second stoppers1421can be a cuboid, and a length extension direction of the cuboid is consistent with an arrangement direction of stoppers in a stopper group14. As illustrated inFIG. 4, each of the first stoppers1411and the second stoppers1421can be a wavy solid, and a length extension direction of the wavy solid is consistent with an arrangement direction of the stoppers in the stopper group14. In addition, each of the first stoppers1411and the second stoppers1421can also be of other shapes such as an arc-shaped solid, a cylinder, a circular truncated cone, a triangular prism, a cube or a polygonal solid, and is not limited to the structures illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

As illustrated inFIG. 5, the second stopper group142further includes a fourth stopper1422in each second gap S2, and a length extension direction of each fourth stopper1422is perpendicular to a length extension direction of each second stopper1421.

As illustrated inFIG. 6, the first stopper group141further includes a third stopper1412in each first gap S1, and a length extension direction of each third stopper1412is perpendicular to a length extension direction of each first stopper1411; the second stopper group142further includes a fourth stopper1422in each second gap S2, and a length extension direction of each fourth stopper1422is perpendicular to a length extension direction of each second stopper1421.

Since the length extension direction of each third stopper1412in the first stopper group141is perpendicular to the length extension direction of each first stopper1411, and the length extension direction of each fourth stopper1422in the second stopper group142is perpendicular to the length extension direction of each second stopper1421, an edge portion of the flexible display substrate1may further be structurally strengthened in different directions through the first stoppers1411, the third stoppers1412, the second stoppers1421and the fourth stoppers1422, to make it impossible for the crack produced in the edge portion to pass through the crack stopping component to thereby protect the display area of the flexible display substrate and facilitate stress dispersion when the flexible display substrate1is bent in each direction.

In a particular implementation, as illustrated inFIG. 7toFIG. 9, a length extension direction of each stopper in a stopper group14can have an included angle with an arrangement direction of the plurality of stoppers in the stopper group14. That is, the stoppers can be arranged inclined to the arrangement direction thereof.

As illustrated inFIG. 8, a length extension direction of each stopper140in each stopper group14has an included angle a with the arrangement direction of the plurality of stoppers140in the stopper group14.

As illustrated inFIG. 7, every two adjacent stopper groups14in at least two stopper groups14include a third stopper group143and a fourth stopper group144; the third stopper group143includes a plurality of fifth stoppers1431, and a length extension direction of each fifth stopper1431has an included angle b with an arrangement direction of the plurality of fifth stoppers1431; and the fourth stopper group144includes a plurality of sixth stoppers1441, and a length extension direction of each sixth stopper1441is consistent with an arrangement direction of the plurality of sixth stoppers1441.

Similarly, as illustrated inFIG. 9, the plurality of stopper groups14include a fifth stopper group145and a sixth stopper group146. A length extension direction of each stopper1451in the fifth stopper group145has a first included angle c with an arrangement direction of a plurality of stoppers1451, and a length extension direction of each stopper1461in the sixth stopper group146has a second included angle d with an arrangement direction of a plurality of stoppers1461. Where the first included angle c and the second included angle d can be identical or different, and can be set according to a practical situation. Where the first included angle c and the second included angle d can be 0˜180°.

Further, when the crack stopping component includes a plurality of stopper groups14, an arrangement structure of each stopper group14can be identical or different, and is not limited to the structures as illustrated inFIG. 2toFIG. 9, and other arrangement structures can also be adopted.

On the basis of the above embodiments, each stopper in a stopper group14can be a stopper140made of a metal material. For example, the stopper can be fabricated on the same layer as a gate metal layer, and/or, a source and drain metal layer. Further, each insulation layer can include a buffer layer121, a gate insulation layer, or a source and drain insulation layer124; and the crack stopping component can be on the buffer layer121, the gate insulation layer, or the source and drain insulation layer124. Particularly, the crack stopping component can include a stopper group14fabricated on the same layer as the gate metal layer and a stopper group14fabricated on the same layer as the source and drain metal layer. Moreover, the plurality of stopper groups14in the crack stopping component can be on one layer, two layers or even more layers of the buffer layer121, the gate insulation layer, and the source and drain insulation layer124, respectively.

As illustrated inFIG. 1andFIG. 2, in order to better stop the crack in the edge of the flexible display substrate1from extending to the display area, the flexible display substrate1further includes at least one annular blocking wall15on a side of the crack stopping component away from the display area, and/or, at least one blocking dam16on a side of the crack stopping component facing the display area. Where the flexible display substrate1can be provided with two annular blocking walls15, or more than two annular blocking walls15, and the annular blocking walls15are arranged at intervals. Further, each annular blocking wall15can be fabricated on the same layer as the gate insulation layer, and/or, the source and drain insulation layer124. Each blocking dam16can be annularly arranged in a manner surrounding the display area; and when the organic layers (not illustrated in the figures) in the encapsulation layer13are formed by inkjet printing, the blocking dam16can prevent overflow of an organic material.

In addition, the embodiments of the disclosure further provide a display panel, which includes the flexible display substrate1according to any one of the above embodiments of the disclosure.

Moreover, the embodiments of the disclosure further provide a display device, which includes the display panel above according to the embodiments of the disclosure. Where the display device can be electronic equipment with a display function, for example, a mobile phone, an electronic book, a tablet computer, a television and a display.

Evidently those skilled in the art can make various modifications and variations to the disclosure without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Accordingly the disclosure is also intended to encompass these modifications and variations thereto so long as the modifications and variations come into the scope of the claims appended to the disclosure and their equivalents.