Abstract:
A flexible display device and an electronic device, applied to the technical field of display, are provided and aim at solving the technical problem in the related art that a driving IC is prone to rupture and/or breakage following bending of a flexible display panel. The flexible display device may include a flexible display panel, a flexible circuit board, and a driving IC. The flexible circuit board may include a body portion including an element arrangement region and a reserved region, and a connecting portion protruding from the reserved region and extending toward the flexible display panel, and is connected to the flexible display panel. A separation space is defined among the body portion, the connecting portion, and the flexible display panel. The driving IC is electrically installed in the element arrangement region.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present disclosure relates to the technical field of display, and particularly to a flexible display device, and an electronic device having the flexible display device. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Currently, common display devices include displays used by televisions, computers, cellphones and so on. Such displays may be liquid crystal displays (“LCD” for short) or light emitting diode (“LED” for short) displays, etc. These displays inevitably have certain weight, thickness, and volume, and they are fixed in a certain place. Based on this, applications of three-dimensional display or touch display bring new feelings and experiences to users. Flexible display devices are opposite to the above display devices. A core component of a flexible display device is a flexible display. The flexible display has enormous application potential due to its characteristics of being light and thin, bendable, etc. 
         [0003]    Generally, the flexible display device is a display device which is made from a flexible material and is deformable and bendable, and which has characteristics of low power consumption, small volume, direct visualized flexibility and so on. Generally speaking, a driving IC is used to drive a flexible display and a flexible display product to display, and a common practice is: after bonding the driving IC on a TCP of a flexible thin film and a COP thin film, fixing them on a panel for use.  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 4  are structural schematic views of mounting a driving IC(s)  3   a ,  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 3  shows that one driving IC  3   a  is arranged at a side edge of a flexible display panel  1   a , and  FIG. 4  shows that the driving ICs  3   a  are arranged at two adjacent side edges of the flexible display panel  1   a . It can be seen that the driving IC  3   a  is usually arranged along an edge of the flexible display panel  1   a . Since the driving IC  3   a  has a certain geometrical length, according to the existing mounting methods, although the wiring of an IC circuit can be simplified, when the flexible display panel  1   a  provided with the driving IC  3   a  is bent, even if the driving IC  3   a  also can be bent therewith, if the bending curvature and the bending force become big, during the bending process, the driving IC  3   a  may be fractured and/or broken, thus damage is generated. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    The present disclosure aims to provide a flexible display device and an electronic device, which, by defining a reserved region in a flexible circuit board, aim at solving the technical problem in the related art that a driving IC is prone to rupture and/or breakage following bending of a flexible display panel. 
         [0005]    According to a first aspect, a flexible display device is provided. The flexible display device may include a flexible display panel, a flexible circuit board, and a driving IC. The flexible display panel is bendable and deformable. The flexible circuit board is electrically coupled to the flexible display panel, and may include a body portion, and a connecting portion. The body portion may include an element arrangement region, and a reserved region. The connecting portion protrudes from the reserved region and extends toward the flexible display panel, and is connected to the flexible display panel. A separation space is defined among the body portion, the connecting portion, and the flexible display panel. The driving IC is electrically installed in the element arrangement region. 
         [0006]    In combination with the first aspect, in a first possible implementation, the connecting portion is connected to a connecting side edge of the flexible display panel. 
         [0007]    In combination with the first possible implementation of the first aspect, in a second possible implementation, the body portion is divided into the element arrangement region and the reserved region along a longitudinal direction with respect to the connecting side edge. 
         [0008]    In combination with the first possible implementation of the first aspect, in a third possible implementation, an arrangement direction of the driving IC is parallel to the connecting side edge. 
         [0009]    In combination with the first possible implementation of the first aspect, in a fourth possible implementation, the reserved region is a penetrating region  2 ) corresponding to a side of the connecting portion that faces away from the connecting side edge. 
         [0010]    In combination with the fourth possible implementation of the first aspect, in a fifth possible implementation, the reserved region may include the penetrating region, and a separation region located between the penetrating region and the element arrangement region. 
         [0011]    In combination with the fourth possible implementation of the first aspect, in a sixth possible implementation, the element arrangement region may include a first element arrangement region and a second element arrangement region located at two sides of the penetrating region. 
         [0012]    In combination with the fifth possible implementation of the first aspect, in a seventh possible implementation, the reserved region may include the penetrating region, and a first separation region and a second separation region located at two sides of the penetrating region. 
         [0013]    In combination with the first aspect, in an eighth possible implementation, the body portion may further include an extension region protruding and extending from the element arrangement region and facing away from the flexible display panel. The driving IC is arranged in the extension region. 
         [0014]    In combination with the first aspect or any one of the first to seventh possible implementations of the first aspect, in a ninth possible implementation, the flexible display device may include a plurality of the flexible circuit boards. 
         [0015]    In a second aspect, an electronic device is provided which may include any one of the above flexible display devices. 
         [0016]    Technical effects of the present disclosure with respect to the related art are: by defining the reserved region in the flexible circuit board and arranging the driving IC in the element arrangement region, the bending deformation of the flexible display panel does not affect the driving IC arranged on the flexible circuit board, thereby avoiding the phenomenon of causing damage such as fracture or breakage to the driving IC. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]    In order to illustrate the technical solutions of embodiments of the present disclosure more clearly, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the related art will be briefly described. Apparently, the accompanying drawings described in the following are some embodiments of the present disclosure, and a person skilled in the art can obtain other accompanying drawings without any creative effort. 
           [0018]      FIG. 1  is a structural schematic view of a flexible display panel according to the related art, showing a driving IC mounted on the flexible display panel. 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is a structural schematic view showing the flexible display panel of  FIG. 1  bent along a long side of the flexible display panel. 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  is a structural schematic view showing the flexible display panel of  FIG. 1  bent along a short side of the flexible display panel. 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  is another structural schematic view of a flexible display panel according to the related art, showing driving ICs mounted on the flexible display panel. 
           [0022]      FIG. 5  is a structural schematic view of a flexible display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0023]      FIG. 6  is another structural schematic view of a flexible display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0024]      FIG. 7  is a further structural schematic view of a flexible display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0025]      FIG. 8  is a structural schematic view showing the flexible display device of  FIG. 5  bent along a connecting side edge of a flexible display panel. 
           [0026]      FIG. 9  is a structural schematic view showing the flexible display device of  FIG. 5  bent around another connecting side edge of the flexible display panel. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0027]    In order to make clearer the object, technical solutions, and advantages of the present disclosure, below the present disclosure is further described in detail in combination with the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It shall be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely used to illustrate the present disclosure but not to limit the present disclosure. 
         [0028]    Referring to  FIG. 5  to  FIG. 7 , a flexible display device provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a flexible display panel  10 , a flexible circuit board  20 , and a driving IC  30 . The flexible display panel  10  is bendable and deformable. The flexible circuit board  20  is electrically coupled to the flexible display panel  10 , and may include a body portion  21 , and a connecting portion  25 . The body portion  21  may include an element arrangement region  22 , and a reserved region  23 . The connecting portion  25  protrudes from the reserved region  23  and extends toward the flexible display panel  10 , and is connected to the flexible display panel  10 . A separation space  12  is defined among the body portion  21 , the connecting portion  25 , and the flexible display panel  10 . The driving IC  30  is electrically installed in the element arrangement region  22 . 
         [0029]    For the flexible display device provided in the embodiment of the present disclosure, by defining the reserved region  23  in the flexible circuit board  20  and defining the separation space  12  between the body portion  21  and the flexible display panel  10 , and by arranging the driving IC  30  in the element arrangement region  22 , the bending and deformation of the flexible display panel  10  does not affect the driving IC  30  arranged in the flexible circuit board  20 , thereby avoiding the phenomenon of causing damage such as fracture or breakage to the driving IC  30 . 
         [0030]    In the embodiment, since the separation space  12  is defined between the body portion  21  and the flexible display panel  10 , and the reserved region  23  is defined in the flexible circuit board  20 , when the flexible display panel  10  is bent along its any side edge, the element arrangement region  22 , together with the driving IC  30 , are not bent and deformed, thus, the driving IC  30  does not affect the bending and deformation of the flexible display panel  10 . 
         [0031]    In the embodiment, the reserved region  23 , the element arrangement region  22 , and the connecting portion  25  are integrally formed from a monolithic piece. 
         [0032]    In the embodiment, the flexible display panel  10  is an OLED flexible display, or a flexible touch display. 
         [0033]    In the embodiment, the flexible display panel  10 , together with the flexible circuit board  20 , can be bent and deformed along a long side or a short side of the flexible display panel  10 . 
         [0034]    Referring to  FIG. 5  to  FIG. 7 , furthermore, the connecting portion  25  is connected to a connecting side edge  14  of the flexible display panel  10 . The connecting side edge  14  is not limited to a side edge for physically located connection, but includes a side extending from the connecting side edge  14  after the connecting portion  25  is electrically coupled to the flexible display panel  10 . It can be understood that the connecting portion  25  extends from the reserved region  23 , and is connected to the connecting side edge  14  of the flexible display panel  10 . A plane where the connecting portion  25  is located is parallel to a display surface of the flexible display panel  10 . 
         [0035]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , preferably, the body portion  21  is divided into the element arrangement region  22  and the reserved region  23  along a longitudinal direction with respect to the connecting side edge  14 . It can be understood that in the longitudinal direction with respect to the connecting side edge  14 , the element arrangement region  22  and the reserved region  23  are arranged side by side. The arrangement direction of the element arrangement region  22  and the reserved region  23  is an extending direction of the connecting side edge  14 , or an angle is defined between the arrangement direction of the element arrangement region  22  and the reserved region  23  and the extending direction of the connecting side edge  14 , and the angle falls within a range of 0-180 degrees except 90 degrees. 
         [0036]    Preferably, the arrangement direction of the driving IC  30  is parallel to the connecting side edge  14 . In other embodiments, the arrangement direction of the driving IC  30  is perpendicular to the connecting side edge  14 , or any angle is defined between the arrangement direction of the driving IC  30  and the connecting side edge  14 . 
         [0037]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , preferably, the reserved region  23  is a penetrating region  230  facing a side of the connecting portion  25  that faces away from the connecting side edge  14 . It can be understood that when the flexible circuit board  20  is in an unfolded state, the connecting portion  25 , the reserved region  23 , and the element arrangement region  22  form an L shape. The connecting portion  25  is located between the reserved region  23  and the flexible display panel  10 , and the arrangement direction of the connecting portion  25  and the reserved region  23  is perpendicular to the connecting side edge  14  of the flexible display panel  10 . The connecting side edge  14  is a side edge connected to the connecting portion  25 . When the flexible display panel  10  is bent and deformed along the connecting side edge  14 , since the element arrangement region  22  is not bent and deformed due to the separation space  12 , damage to the driving IC  30  is avoided. Likewise, when the flexible display panel  10  is bent and deformed along a side edge adjacent to the connecting side edge  14 , the connecting portion  25  and the reserved region  23  are bent and deformed, but the element arrangement region  22  is not bent and deformed due to the separation space  12 , damage to the driving IC  30  is avoided. 
         [0038]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , preferably, the reserved region  23  includes the penetrating region  230 , and a separation region  232  located between the penetrating region  230  and the element arrangement region  22 . The reserved region  23  includes the penetrating region  230  located at the side of the connecting portion  25  facing away from the connecting side edge  14 , and the separation region  232  located between the penetrating region  230  and the element arrangement region  22 . It can be understood that the penetrating region  230 , the separation region  232 , and the element arrangement region  22  are arranged side by side along the extending direction of the connecting side edge  14 , and the separation region  232 , the penetrating region  230 , and the connecting portion  25  form an L shape. When the flexible display panel  10  is bent and deformed along the connecting side edge  14 , since the element arrangement region  22  is not bent and deformed due to the separation space  12 , damage to the driving IC  30  is avoided, as shown in  FIG. 8 . Likewise, when the flexible display panel  10  is bent and deformed along the side edge adjacent to the connecting side edge  14 , the connecting portion  25  and the reserved region  23  are bent and deformed, but since the reserved region  23  and the element arrangement region  22  are arranged side by side and form a surrounding side of the separation space  12 , the element arrangement region  22  is not bent and deformed, thereby avoiding damage to the driving IC  30 , as shown in  FIG. 9 . 
         [0039]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , preferably, the reserved region  23  includes the penetrating region  230  located at the side of the connecting portion  25  facing away from the connecting side edge  14 , and a first separation region  234  and a second separation region  236  located at two sides of the penetrating region  230 . It can be understood that the first separation region  234  and the second separation region  236  are located at two sides of the penetrating region  230 , thus, the first separation region  234 , the penetrating region  230 , the second separation region  236 , and the connecting portion  25  form a T-shape structure. The arrangement direction of the connecting portion  25  and the penetrating region  230 , and the arrangement direction of the first separation region  234 , the penetrating region  230 , and the second penetrating region  230 , are perpendicular to each other, or form a certain angle therebetween. When the flexible display panel  10  is bent and deformed along the connecting side edge  14 , since the element arrangement region  22  is not bent and deformed due to the separation space  12 , damage to the driving IC  30  is avoided. Likewise, when the flexible display panel  10  is bent and deformed along the side edge adjacent to the connecting side edge  14 , since the element arrangement region  22  is not bent and deformed due to the separation space  12 , the first separation region  234 , and the second separation region  236 , damage to the driving IC  30  is avoided. 
         [0040]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , preferably, the element arrangement region  22  includes a first element arrangement region  220  and a second element arrangement region  222  located at two sides of the longitudinal penetrating region  230 . It can be understood that the first element arrangement region  220  and the second element arrangement region  222  are located at two sides of the penetrating region  230 , that is, the arrangement direction of the first element arrangement region  220 , the penetrating region  230 , and the second element arrangement region  222  is parallel to the extending direction of the connecting side edge  14 , alternatively, the arrangement direction of the first element arrangement region  220 , the first separation region  234 , the penetrating region  230 , the second separation region  236 , and the second arrangement region  222  is parallel to the extending direction of the connecting side edge  14 . 
         [0041]    Referring to  FIG. 5  to  FIG. 7 , more preferably, the body portion  21  may further include an extension region  24  protruding and extending from the element arrangement region  22  and facing away from the flexible display panel  10 . The driving IC  30  is arranged in the extension region  24 . It can be understood that the extension region  24  and the separation space  12  are located at two sides of the element arrangement region  22 , and the arrangement direction of the extension region  24  and the element arrangement region  22  is perpendicular to the connecting side edge  14  of the flexible display panel  10 , or a certain angle is defined between the arrangement direction of the extension region  24  and the element arrangement region  22 , and the connecting side edge  14  of the flexible display panel  10 . 
         [0042]    Furthermore, the flexible display device may include multiple flexible circuit boards  20 . Preferably, the flexible circuit boards  20  are connected to a side or sides of the flexible display panel  10 . The flexible circuit boards  20  are arranged side by side along the connecting side edge  14  of the flexible display panel  10 . 
         [0043]    As shown in  FIG. 5  to  FIG. 7 , an electronic device provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure includes the flexible display device. The flexible display device may include the flexible display panel  10 , the flexible circuit board  20 , and the driving IC  30 . The flexible display panel  10  is bendable and deformable. The flexible circuit board  20  is electrically coupled to the flexible display panel  10 , and may include the body portion  21 , and the connecting portion  25 . The body portion  21  may include the element arrangement region  22 , and the reserved region  23 . The connecting portion  25  protrudes from the reserved region  23  and extends toward the flexible display panel  10 , and is connected to the flexible display panel  10 . The separation space  12  is defined among the body portion  21 , the connecting portion  25 , and the flexible display panel  10 . The driving IC  30  is electrically installed in the element arrangement region  22 . 
         [0044]    The flexible display device of the electronic device provided in the embodiment of the present disclosure may be the flexible display device of any one of the above embodiments, having the same structure and function, and unnecessary details will not be given herein. 
         [0045]    The above-mentioned descriptions are merely for preferable embodiments of the present disclosure and not used to limit the present disclosure. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements and so on, made within the spirit and principle of the present disclosure, shall be covered by the scope of protection of the present disclosure.