Patent Publication Number: US-11657942-B2

Title: Support apparatus and flexible device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to Chinese patent application No. 202011380884.X filed with CNIPA on Nov. 30, 2020, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to the field of flexible displays and, in particular, to a support apparatus and a flexible device. 
     BACKGROUND 
     With the development of flexible display technology, flexible display screens are increasingly applied to mobile terminals, and flexible display screens are formed into different forms of flexible curved surfaces by using a flexible screen support structure. 
     The method for forming flexible display screens into different forms of flexible curved surfaces includes: placing a mechanical telescopic support frame with a drive motor or an airbag with a sensor on the back surface of the flexible display screen, and through a relative movement of the telescopic support frame or a shape change of the airbag making the flexible display screen be formed into different forms of flexible curved surfaces, such as a concave curved surface, a convex curved surface, or a wave-shaped curved surface. Since the existing flexible screen support structure adopts the mechanical transmission device and needs to be driven by the motor, such a structure is complicated in structure, occupies large internal space and has a relatively large weight, which makes it difficult to satisfy the requirement of being portable. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure provides a support apparatus and a flexible device to form flexible display screens into different forms of flexible curved surfaces by using the support apparatus. 
     In an embodiment, the present disclosure provides a support apparatus. The support apparatus includes: 
     a support substrate, an electromagnetic support cavity array which is located on the support substrate and includes multiple electromagnetic support cavities; and 
     multiple magnetic field generation circuits and a control module, where the multiple magnetic field generation circuits are electrically connected to the control module, and the control module is configured to control the multiple magnetic field generation circuits to generate magnetic fields to make the multiple electromagnetic support cavities deform along a direction perpendicular to a plane in which the support substrate is located. 
     In an embodiment, based on the same concept, the present disclosure further provides a flexible device including a flexible object and a support apparatus. The support apparatus includes: a support substrate, an electromagnetic support cavity array which is located on the support substrate and includes multiple electromagnetic support cavities; and multiple magnetic field generation circuits and a control module, where the multiple magnetic field generation circuits are electrically connected to the control module, and the control module is configured to control the multiple magnetic field generation circuits to generate magnetic fields to make the multiple electromagnetic support cavities deform along a direction perpendicular to a plane in which the support substrate is located. 
     The flexible object is located on a side of the electromagnetic support cavity array facing away from the support substrate. 
     The present disclosure provides the support apparatus and the flexible device, the support apparatus includes the support substrate, the electromagnetic support cavity array, the multiple magnetic field generation circuits, and the control module. When the flexible object is provided on a side of the electromagnetic support cavity array facing away from the support substrate, the control module in the support apparatus may control the strength of magnetic field signals output by the magnetic field generation circuits, and each electromagnetic support cavity in the electromagnetic support cavity array deforms to a bent curved surface in the direction perpendicular to the plane in which the support substrate is located according to the strength of magnetic field signals generated by the magnetic field generation circuits, so that the flexible object located on the electromagnetic support cavity array is formed into a target curved shape. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a structural diagram of a support apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  2    is another structural diagram of a support apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  3    is a sectional view of a support apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  4    is a schematic diagram of a deformation of an electromagnetic support cavity array according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  5    is a top view of electromagnetic support cavities according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  6    is a sectional view taken along line AA′ of the electromagnetic support cavities illustrated in  FIG.  5   ; 
         FIG.  7    is a sectional view of electromagnetic support cavities according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  8    is another sectional view of electromagnetic support cavities according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  9    is a structural diagram of a magnetic field generation circuit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  10    is another structural diagram of a magnetic field generation circuit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  11    is another sectional view of electromagnetic support cavities according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  12    is another sectional view of electromagnetic support cavities according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  13    is another top view of electromagnetic support cavities according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  14    is another top view of electromagnetic support cavities according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  15    is a sectional diagram of a flexible device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  16    is another sectional diagram of a flexible device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  17    is another sectional diagram of a flexible device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  18    is another sectional diagram of a flexible device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  19    is a top view of the flexible device illustrated in  FIG.  18   ; 
         FIG.  20    is an enlarged structural diagram of area AA of the flexible device illustrated in  FIG.  18   ; 
         FIG.  21    is another sectional diagram of a flexible device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG.  22    is an enlarged view of area BB of the flexible device illustrated in  FIG.  21   . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Hereinafter the present disclosure will be further described in detail in conjunction with drawings and embodiments. It is to be understood that the embodiments set forth herein are intended to explain the present disclosure and not to limit the present disclosure. Additionally, it is to be noted that for ease of description, merely part, not all, of the structures related to the present disclosure are illustrated in the drawings. 
       FIG.  1    is a structural diagram of a support apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in  FIG.  1   , the support apparatus includes a support substrate  100  and an electromagnetic support cavity array  200 . The electromagnetic support cavity array  200  is located on the support substrate  100  and includes multiple electromagnetic support cavities  10 . The support apparatus further includes multiple magnetic field generation circuits and a control module (not shown in  FIG.  1   ). The multiple magnetic field generation circuits are electrically connected to the control module, and the control module is configured to control the multiple magnetic field generation circuits to generate magnetic fields, so that the multiple electromagnetic support cavities  10  deform along a direction perpendicular to a plane in which the support substrate  100  is located. 
     Exemplarily, when a flexible object  500  (which is exemplarily represented by using the dashed lines in  FIG.  1   ) located on the electromagnetic support cavity array  200  has a concave bend, the control module, at this point, acquires a pressure value at each position of the flexible object  500  located on the electromagnetic support cavity array  200  and controls the multiple magnetic field generation circuits to generate magnetic fields. That is, corresponding to pressure values at different positions of the flexible object  500 , the control module controls the magnetic fields generated by the multiple magnetic field generation circuits to be different in magnitude to make electromagnetic forces received by the electromagnetic support cavities  10  at different pressure positions to be different, so that the electromagnetic support cavities  10  stretch or contract according to the strength of the magnetic field signals generated by the magnetic field generation circuits. When the bending shape of the flexible object  500  located on the electromagnetic cavity support array  200  needs to be adaptively changed, the control module at this point may control the magnetic field generation circuits to generate magnetic fields, so that the electromagnetic forces received by the electromagnetic support cavities  10  at different positions are different, so to automatically adjust the stretch or contraction range of each electromagnetic support cavity  10 , thereby forming the flexible object  500  into a target bending shape. 
     It is to be noted that  FIG.  1    illustrates that each electromagnetic support cavity  10  is in a cylindrical shape, while the electromagnetic support cavities  10  may also be in a hemispherical shape as shown in  FIG.  2   , and the embodiments of the present disclosure do not limit the structure of the electromagnetic support cavities  10 . 
     The support apparatus provide by the embodiments of the present disclosure includes a support substrate, an electromagnetic support cavity array, multiple magnetic field generation circuits, and a control module. When a flexible object is provided on a side of the electromagnetic support cavity array facing away from the support substrate, the control module in the support apparatus may control the strength of magnetic field signals output by the magnetic field generation circuits, and each electromagnetic support cavity in the electromagnetic support cavity array deforms in the direction perpendicular to the plane in which the support substrate is located according to the strength of magnetic field signals generated by magnetic field generation circuits to form a bent curved surface, so that the flexible object located on the electromagnetic support cavity array is formed into a target curved shape. 
     On the basis of the above embodiments,  FIG.  3    is a sectional view of a support apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in  FIG.  3   , the side of the electromagnetic support cavity array  200  facing away from the support substrate  100  is an arc surface (which is exemplarily represented by using the dashed line in  FIG.  3   ). 
     The side of the electromagnetic support cavity array  200  facing away from the support substrate  100  is set to be an arc surface, and the magnetic fields generated by the magnetic field generation circuits  300  make the electromagnetic support cavities  10  deform in the direction perpendicular to the plane in which the support substrate  100  is located, so the electromagnetic support cavities  10  in the arc shape can implement a smooth transition of the flexible object located on the electromagnetic support cavities  10 , thereby avoiding the phenomenon that the flexible object located on the electromagnetic support cavities  10  has a right-angle bend or a dart when the electromagnetic support cavities  10  deform. 
     The side of the electromagnetic support cavity array  200  facing away from the support substrate  100  may be configured to carry the flexible object  500 . 
     Exemplarily, in conjunction with  FIGS.  1  and  4   , the flexible object  500  is carried on the side of the electromagnetic support cavity array  200  facing away from the support substrate  100 . When the control module controls the magnetic fields generated by the magnetic field generation circuits to make the electromagnetic support cavities  10  deform in the direction perpendicular to the plane in which the support substrate  100  is located, the flexible object  500  located on the electromagnetic support cavities  10  may be formed into a flexible curved surface having different forms according to the deformation manner of the electromagnetic support cavities  10 .  FIG.  4    illustrates four types of deformation manner of the flexible object while the flexible object may also be in other types of deformation manner, and the embodiments of the present disclosure do not limit the deformation manner of the flexible object. 
     On the basis of the above embodiments,  FIG.  5    is a top view of electromagnetic support cavities according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and  FIG.  6    is a sectional view taken along line AA′ of the electromagnetic support cavities illustrated in  FIG.  5   . As shown in  FIG.  5    and  FIG.  6   , each electromagnetic support cavity  10  includes an electromagnetic material layer  11  and a protection layer  12 , and the protection layer  12  is located on an outer side wall of the electromagnetic material layer  11 . 
     Exemplarily, as shown in  FIG.  6   , each electromagnetic support cavity  10  is provided with the electromagnetic material layer  11 , and the electromagnetic material layer  11  deforms under the action of the magnetic field signals generated by the magnetic field generation circuits  300  to make the electromagnetic support cavities deform in the direction perpendicular to the plane in which the support substrate  100  is located, so that the flexible object  500  located on the electromagnetic support cavities  10  is formed into a target curved shape. The protection layer  12  is provided on the outer side wall of the electromagnetic material layer  11  and used to protect the electromagnetic material layer  11 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  5   , there is a gap located between adjacent electromagnetic support cavities. When the support apparatus is applied to carry flexible objects of different sizes, the support apparatus is adapted to the flexible objects of different sizes by changing gaps located between adjacent electromagnetic support cavities, which has wide applicability. 
     Exemplarily, the material of the protection layer  12  is set to include high-molecular polymeric materials such as polytetrafluoroethylene. The protection layer may have a thickness within a range of 80 um to 120 um. 
     When the thickness of the protection layer  12  is set to be relatively thin, the relatively thin protection layer  12  cannot provide good protection for the electromagnetic material layer  11 . When the thickness of the protection layer  12  is set to be relatively thick, the relatively thick protection layer  12  affects the amount of deformation of the electromagnetic material layer  11 . Therefore, when the thickness of the protection layer  12  is set to be in the range of 80 um to 120 um, the protection layer does not affect the amount of deformation of the electromagnetic material layer  11  under the magnetic field signals generated by the magnetic field generation circuits while protecting the electromagnetic material layer  11 . 
     Exemplarily, the electromagnetic material layer  11  may be set to include alloy materials, for example, the steel-aluminum alloy doped with non-metallic materials such as carbon or silicon. The embodiments of the present disclosure do not limit the electromagnetic material layer  11  so long as it is ensured that the electromagnetic material layer can interact with the magnetic field signals under the action of the magnetic fields generated by the magnetic field generation circuits. The thickness of the coating of the protection layer may have a range of 10 um to 30 um. 
     The thickness of the coating of the electromagnetic material layer  11  is set to range from 10 um to 30 um. When the thickness of the coating of the electromagnetic material layer  11  is relatively thin, the relatively thin electromagnetic material layer  11  under the action of the magnetic fields generated by the magnetic field generation circuits has a relatively small amount of deformation, so that the amount of deformation of the electromagnetic support cavities  10  in the direction perpendicular to the plane in which the support substrate  100  is located is affected. When the thickness of the electromagnetic material layer  11  satisfies the amount of deformation of the electromagnetic material layer  11 , a relatively thick electromagnetic material layer  11  may cause a waste of electromagnetic materials. 
     On the basis of the above embodiments,  FIG.  7    is a sectional view of electromagnetic support cavities according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in  FIG.  7   , each electromagnetic support cavity may further include a magnetic field absorption layer  13 . The magnetic field absorption layer  13  has a hollow pattern  130  and is located on an inner side wall of the electromagnetic material layer  11 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  7   , the inner side wall of the electromagnetic material layer is provided with the magnetic field absorption layer  13 , and the magnetic field absorption layer  13  includes the hollow pattern  130 . When the electromagnetic support cavities  10  deform in the direction perpendicular to the plane in which the support substrate  100  is located according to the magnetic field signals generated by the magnetic field generation circuits  300 , a position provided with the magnetic field absorption layer  13  on the electromagnetic material layer  11  does not deform since the magnetic field absorption layer  13  absorbs the magnetic field signals generated by the magnetic field generation circuits  300 , while a position provided with no magnetic field absorption layer  13  on the electromagnetic material layer  11  deforms under the action of the magnetic fields generated by the magnetic field generation circuits. The electromagnetic material layer  11  enables the electromagnetic support cavities  10  to deform in the direction perpendicular to the plane in which the support substrate  100  is located according to the strength of electromagnetic signals at different positions. 
     On the basis of the above embodiments,  FIG.  8    is another sectional view of electromagnetic support cavities according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in  FIG.  8   , magnetic field absorption layers  13  of at least a partial number of the multiple electromagnetic support cavities  10  may have different areas. Exemplarily, as shown in  FIG.  8   , the magnetic field absorption layers  13  in different electromagnetic support cavities have different attachment areas on inner side walls of the electromagnetic material layers  11 . At least a partial number of the multiple electromagnetic support cavities are set to have different areas of the magnetic field absorption layers  13 . When the magnetic field signals output by the multiple magnetic field generation circuits  300  have the same strength/different strengths, the interaction between the magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generation circuit  300  and the electromagnetic material layer may be changed according to the area of the magnetic field absorption layer  13  in the corresponding electromagnetic support cavity to make the amount of deformation of the electromagnetic material layer different, so that the electromagnetic support cavities  10  deform in the direction perpendicular to the plane in which the support substrate  100  is located according to the amount of deformation generated on the electromagnetic material layer  11 . 
     It is to be noted that  FIG.  8    illustrates a manner of implementing different areas of the magnetic field absorption layers  13  of the electromagnetic support cavities  10  while such different areas may also be implemented in other manners, and the embodiments of the present disclosure do not limit the arrangement of the magnetic field absorption layer  13 . 
     The multiple magnetic field generation circuits may be connected in series. 
     When the support apparatus is applied to carry a relatively large flexible object, the number of electromagnetic support cavities in the electromagnetic cavity support array of the support apparatus is large. When each electromagnetic support cavity in the electromagnetic cavity support array needs to deform in the direction perpendicular to the plane in which the support substrate is located, multiple magnetic field generation circuits are needed to generate magnetic field signals, respectively, and thus the circuit structure of the support apparatus is complex and a lot of output ports of the control module are occupied. Through a serial connection of the multiple magnetic field generation circuits, the phenomenon that a lot of output ports of the control module are occupied due to the large number of magnetic field generation circuits is avoided. When the multiple magnetic field generation circuits are connected in series, the magnetic field absorption layers in the magnetic field support cavities may be set to be different, so that the deformations generated by the electromagnetic material may be different and thus each electromagnetic support cavity has a different deformation. 
     With continued reference to  FIG.  7   , each electromagnetic support cavity  10  may have the same area of the magnetic field absorption layer  13 , and the control module is configured to adjust magnetic fields generated by at least a partial number of the magnetic field generation circuits  300  to be different, so that the at least a partial number of the electromagnetic support cavities  10  deform differently along the direction perpendicular to the plane in which the support substrate  100  is located. 
     When each electromagnetic support cavity  10  has the same area of the magnetic field absorption layer  13 , the control module adjusts the magnetic fields generated by at least a partial number of the magnetic field generation circuits  300 , and in this manner, the deformation generated by the interaction in each electromagnetic support cavity  10  between the electromagnetic material layer  11  and the magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generation circuit  300  is related to the strength of the magnetic field signals generated by the corresponding magnetic field generation circuit  300 , so that at least a partial number of the electromagnetic support cavities  10  deform differently in the direction perpendicular to the plane in which the support substrate  100  is located by changing the strengths of the magnetic field signals generated by the magnetic field generation circuits  300 . 
     The magnetic field absorption layer  13  may include a carbon-based conductive polymer. 
     The magnetic field absorption layer is set to include a carbon-based conductive polymer, and the magnetic field signals generated by the magnetic field generation circuits are absorbed by the magnetic field absorption layer, so that the position provided with the magnetic field absorption layer on the electromagnetic material layer does not deform while the position provided without the magnetic field absorption layer on the electromagnetic material layer deforms, so that the electromagnetic support cavities deform differently in the direction perpendicular to the plane in which the support substrate is located according to the magnitude of the deformation force between the magnetic field absorption layer and the electromagnetic material layer. 
     It is to be noted that the embodiments of the present disclosure do not limit the material of the magnetic field absorption layer  13  so long as it is ensured that the provided material of the magnetic field absorption layer can absorb the magnetic field signals generated by the magnetic field generation circuit  300 , so that the position provided with the magnetic field absorption layer on the electromagnetic material layer does not deform. 
     The thickness of the coating of the magnetic field absorption layer  13  may range from 10 um to 30 um. 
     Exemplarily, the thickness of the coating of the magnetic field absorption layer  13  ranges from 10 um to 30 um. When the thickness of the coating of the magnetic field absorption layer  13  is relatively thin, the relatively thin magnetic field absorption layer  13  cannot absorb the magnetic field signals generated by the magnetic field generation circuit  300  well, so that the position provided with the magnetic field absorption layer  13  on the electromagnetic material layer deforms; when the thickness of the coating of the magnetic field absorption layer  13  is relatively thick, the relatively thick magnetic field absorption layer  13  affects the amount of deformation of the electromagnetic material layer. 
     On the basis of the above embodiments,  FIG.  9    is a structural diagram of a magnetic field generation circuit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in  FIG.  9   , the magnetic field generation circuit  300  includes a spiral coil  30  located on an outer side wall of the respective electromagnetic support cavity  10 . 
     Exemplarily, as shown in  FIG.  9   , the spiral coil  30  of the magnetic field generation circuit is located on the outer side wall of the respective electromagnetic support cavity  10 , and the spiral coil  30  is electrically connected to the control module  400 . When the flexible object located on the electromagnetic support cavity array bends, the control module  400  at this point controls spiral coils  30  located on outer side walls of different electromagnetic support cavities  10  to generate different electromagnetic forces, so that the electromagnetic support cavities  10  deform in the direction perpendicular to the plane in which the support substrate  100  is located according to the electromagnetic forces generated by the spiral coils  30  on the side walls of these electromagnetic support cavities  10 . 
     It is to be noted that  FIG.  9    illustrates that the spiral coil  30  is provided on the outer side wall of the respective magnetic field support cavity  10  while the spiral coil  30  may also be provided on an inner side wall of the respective magnetic field support cavity  10 . When the spiral coil  30  is provided on the inner side wall of the magnetic field support cavity  10 , as shown in  FIG.  10   , the spiral coil  30  may be protected by the protection layer  12  in the magnetic field support cavity  10 . 
     In other implementations, a current limiting resistor R may be provided on each magnetic field generation circuit  300 . As shown in  FIG.  9   , a current limiting resistor R is provided on each magnetic field generation circuit  300 . When the control module  400  controls the magnetic field generation circuits  300  to generate magnetic field signals, the current limiting resistors R located on the magnetic field generation circuits  300  may change the value of the current input into the magnetic field generation circuits  300 , so as to change the strengths of the magnetic field signals generated by the magnetic field generation circuits  300 . 
     In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the strength of the magnetic field signal can be adjusted by providing the spiral coil  30  in the corresponding magnetic field generation circuit. For example, the control module  400  may adjust the value of the current input into each spiral coil  30 , and the larger the current is, the stronger the magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generation circuit is, and the larger the deformation of the electromagnetic support cavity  10  in the direction perpendicular to the plane in which the support substrate  100  is located under this magnetic field is. 
     On the basis of the above embodiments,  FIG.  11    is another sectional view of electromagnetic support cavities according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in  FIG.  11   , the magnetic field generation circuit includes a spiral coil  30  located on the support substrate  100 . 
     Exemplarily, with reference to  FIG.  11   , the spiral coil  30  of the respective magnetic field generation circuit may be provided on the support substrate  10 . When the flexible object located on the electromagnetic support cavity array bends, the control module at this point controls the spiral coils  30  located on different electromagnetic support cavities  10  to generate magnetic fields, so that the electromagnetic support cavities  10  deform in the direction perpendicular to the plane in which the support substrate  100  is located according to the magnetic fields generated by the spiral coils  30 . 
     It is to be noted that  FIG.  11    illustrates that the spiral coil is located on the side of the support substrate facing towards the electromagnetic support cavity array, and the spiral coil may also be located on the side of the support substrate facing away from the electromagnetic support cavity array. As shown in  FIG.  12   , the spiral coil  30  is located on the side of the support substrate  100  facing away from the electromagnetic support cavity array  200 , and the electromagnetic support cavity  10  deforms in the direction perpendicular to the plane in which the support substrate  100  is located according to the magnetic field generated by the corresponding spiral coil  30 . Therefore, since the spiral coil  30  is located on the side of the support substrate  100  facing away from the electromagnetic support cavity array  200 , the flatness of the electromagnetic support cavity array  200  located on the support substrate  100  can be ensured. 
     On the basis of the above embodiments,  FIG.  13    is another top view of electromagnetic support cavities according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in  FIG.  13   , the support cavity array  200  may include multiple electromagnetic support cavity groups ( FIG.  13    illustrates that the support cavity array includes electromagnetic support cavity groups  10 A,  10 B,  10 C, and  10 D), each electromagnetic support cavity group includes multiple adjacent electromagnetic support cavities  10 , and each electromagnetic support cavity group corresponds to one of the magnetic field generation circuits. 
     Exemplarily, as shown in  FIG.  13   , the electromagnetic support cavity array includes electromagnetic support cavity groups  10 A,  10 B,  10 C, and  10 D. The electromagnetic support cavity array is divided into multiple electromagnetic support cavity groups, and each electromagnetic support cavity group corresponds to one magnetic field generation circuit, so that the phenomenon that the support apparatus has the complex circuit structure and a lot of output ports of the control module are occupied due to the large number of magnetic field generation circuits can be avoided when the support apparatus is applied to carry a relatively large flexible object.  FIG.  13    is described by using an example of four electromagnetic support cavity groups. Each of the four electromagnetic support cavity groups corresponds to one magnetic field generation circuit. All electromagnetic support cavities  10  of the same electromagnetic support cavity group share one magnetic field generation circuit, so that the deformation of the electromagnetic support cavities  10  in the same electromagnetic support cavity group is basically the same. For example, the magnetic field generation circuit corresponding to the electromagnetic support cavity group  10 A is controlled to generate a magnetic field B 1 , the magnetic field generation circuit corresponding to the electromagnetic support cavity group  10 B is controlled to generate a magnetic field B 2 , the magnetic field generation circuit corresponding to the electromagnetic support cavity group  10 C is controlled to generate a magnetic field B 3 , and the magnetic field generation circuit corresponding to the electromagnetic support cavity group  10 D is controlled to generate a magnetic field B 4 . Magnetic fields B 1 , B 2 , B 3  and B 4  are at least partially different. 
     It is to be noted that in  FIG.  13   , pin 1  is a signal input terminal of the magnetic field generation circuit corresponding to the electromagnetic support cavity group  10 A, pin 2  is a signal input terminal of the magnetic field generation circuit corresponding to the electromagnetic support cavity group  10 B, pin 3  is a signal input terminal of the magnetic field generation circuit corresponding to the electromagnetic support cavity group  10 C, and pin 4  is a signal input terminal of the magnetic field generation circuit corresponding to the electromagnetic support cavity group  10 D. The control module  400  inputs a control signal such as a current signal to the magnetic field generation circuits  300  through the signal input terminals of the magnetic field generation circuits to adjust the magnitudes of the magnetic fields generated by the magnetic field generation circuits  300 . 
     It is to be noted that  FIG.  13    illustrates one division manner of electromagnetic support cavity groups while the magnetic field support cavity groups may be divided according to the deformation manner of the flexible object, and the embodiments of the present disclosure do not limit the division manner of the electromagnetic support cavity groups. 
     On the basis of the above embodiments,  FIG.  14    is another top view of electromagnetic support cavities according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in  FIG.  14   , the electromagnetic support cavity array may include multiple electromagnetic support cavity groups, each electromagnetic support cavity group includes multiple adjacent electromagnetic support cavities, the electromagnetic support cavities have the one-to-one correspondence with the magnetic field generation circuits, and magnetic field generation circuits corresponding to electromagnetic support cavities which belong to the same electromagnetic support cavity group are connected in series. 
     Exemplarily, as shown in  FIG.  14   , the electromagnetic support cavity array includes electromagnetic support cavity groups  10 A,  10 B,  10 C, and  10 D, where magnetic field generation circuits corresponding to electromagnetic support cavities in the electromagnetic support cavity group  10 A are connected in series, magnetic field generation circuits corresponding to electromagnetic support cavities in the electromagnetic support cavity group  10 B are connected in series, magnetic field generation circuits corresponding to electromagnetic support cavities in the electromagnetic support cavity group  10 C are connected in series, and magnetic field generation circuits corresponding to electromagnetic support cavities in the electromagnetic support cavity group  10 D are connected in series. Therefore, the magnetic field generation circuits corresponding to electromagnetic support cavities in each electromagnetic support cavity group are connected in series and are finally connected to the control module  400  through one signal input terminal, so that the purpose of reducing the number of output ports of the control module  400  can also be realized. 
     With reference to  FIG.  14   , pin 1  is a signal input terminal formed by a serial connection of the magnetic field generation circuits corresponding to the electromagnetic support cavities in the electromagnetic support cavity group  10 A, pin 2  is a signal input terminal formed by a serial connection of the magnetic field generation circuits corresponding to the electromagnetic support cavities in the electromagnetic support cavity group  10 B, pin 3  is a signal input terminal formed by a serial connection of the magnetic field generation circuits corresponding to the electromagnetic support cavities in the electromagnetic support cavity group  10 C, and pin 4  is a signal input terminal formed by a serial connection of the magnetic field generation circuits corresponding to the electromagnetic support cavities in the electromagnetic support cavity group  10 D. 
     It is to be noted that the negative electrode of each magnetic field generation circuit  300  is set to be grounded as exemplified in  FIG.  13    and  FIG.  14   . In other implementations, a common low potential may be provided for the negative electrode of each magnetic field generation circuit  300  to form a loop. 
     In addition, in the above embodiments, if the magnetic field generation circuit  300  includes the spiral coil  30 , the number of turns of the spiral coil of each magnetic field generation circuit  300  may be the same or different. In  FIG.  14   , magnetic field generation circuits corresponding to electromagnetic support cavities of the same electromagnetic support cavity group may have a same number of coil turns or different numbers of coil turns. According to the magnetic field strength formula, it can be obtained that the strength of the magnetic field is proportional to both the number of coil turns and the current. Therefore, the magnitude of the magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generation circuit can be controlled by adjusting at least one of the number of coil turns, the value of the current, and the area of the magnetic field absorption layer. 
     On the basis of the above embodiments, the embodiments of the present disclosure may further provide a flexible device. The flexible device includes a flexible object and the support apparatus described in any one of the above embodiments, and the flexible object is located on a side of the electromagnetic support cavity array facing away from the support substrate. 
     Exemplarily, as shown in  FIG.  15   , a flexible object  500  is carried on the side of the electromagnetic support cavity array  200  facing away from the support substrate  100 . When the control module controls the magnetic fields generated by the magnetic field generation circuits to make the electromagnetic support cavities  10  deform in the direction perpendicular to the plane in which the support substrate  100  is located, the flexible object  500  located on the electromagnetic support cavities  10  may be formed into a flexible curved surface having different forms according to the deformation manner of the electromagnetic support cavities  10 . 
     Pressure sensors  20  may be provided between the electromagnetic support cavities  10  and the flexible object  500 , as shown in  FIG.  16   ; alternatively, the pressure sensors  20  may be provided between the electromagnetic support cavities  10  and the support substrate  100 , as shown in  FIG.  17   . The control module may adjust the magnitude of each magnetic field generated by the corresponding magnetic field generation circuit according to a sensed pressure of a respective one of the pressure sensors  20 , and/or, the control module determines whether the support apparatus is adjusted into a target support shape according to sensed pressures of the pressure sensors  20  and preset pressures. 
     It is noted that one pressure sensor  20  may be provided between the electromagnetic support cavities  10  and the flexible object  500 , or, between the electromagnetic support cavities  10  and the support substrate  100 ; alternatively, multiple pressure sensors  20  may be provided between the electromagnetic support cavities  10  and the flexible object  500 , or, between the electromagnetic support cavities  10  and the support substrate  100 . The number of pressure sensors  20  is not limited by the embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     It is also understood that in a case where only one pressure sensor  20  is provided, one corresponding preset pressure is set; and in a case where multiple pressure sensors  20  are provided, preset pressures are set correspondingly. The number of preset pressures is not limited by the embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     That is, there are multiple methods for the control module controlling the magnitude of magnetic fields generated by the multiple magnetic field generation circuits. For example, a user presses the flexible object  500 , the pressure sensors  20  at different positions sense corresponding pressures, and the control module  400  controls the magnitude of the magnetic field generated by each magnetic field generation circuit  300  according to a respective pressure value. For example, the control module  400  controls the value of the current transmitted to a magnetic field generation circuit  300  according to the respective pressure value to adjust the magnitude of the magnetic field generated by the respective one of the multiple magnetic field generation circuits  300 . 
     Alternatively, the control module  400  may also automatically adjust the magnitudes of the magnetic fields generated by the magnetic field generation circuits  300  according to a control instruction. For example, the control module  400  controls the value of the current transmitted to each magnetic field generation circuit  300  according to the control instruction to adjust the magnitude of the magnetic field generated by each magnetic field generation circuit  300 . Each electromagnetic support cavity in the electromagnetic support cavity array deforms in the direction perpendicular to the plane in which the support substrate is located and bends into the target support shape according to the magnitude of the magnetic field generated by the respective one of the multiple magnetic field generation circuits. 
     In order to realize the closed-loop feedback, on the basis of the above embodiments, whether the support apparatus is adjusted to the target support shape may also be determined based on the sensed pressures of the pressure sensors and the preset pressures. Since the electromagnetic support cavities deform differently in the direction perpendicular to the plane in which the support substrate is located, the sensed pressures of the pressure sensors are different. That is, when the support apparatus is in the target support shape, the sensed pressure of each pressure sensor should be a preset pressure corresponding to the target support shape. If the sensed pressure of each pressure sensor is different from the preset pressure corresponding to the target support shape, it indicates that the support apparatus has not been adjusted in the target support shape. At this point, the control module may continue to adjust the magnetic fields generated by the multiple magnetic field generation circuits until each electromagnetic support cavity is adjusted to the target support shape. 
     The flexible object may include one of a flexible display panel, a flexible electronic chip, or a flexible solar cell. 
     Exemplarily, the embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail by using an example that the flexible object is a flexible display panel. In other application scenarios, the flexible object may be a flexible electronic product in a flexible wearable device, such as a flexible electronic chip or a flexible solar cell. The embodiments of the present disclosure do not limit the flexible object. 
     It is to be noted that the flexible display panel provided in the embodiments of the present disclosure may be a display panel in a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a smart wearable device (such as a smartwatch), and other display devices having the fingerprint recognition function as known to those skilled in the art, and the embodiments of the present disclosure do not limit it thereto. 
     On the basis of the above embodiments,  FIG.  18    is a sectional diagram of another flexible device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure,  FIG.  19    is a top view of the flexible device illustrated in  FIG.  18   , and  FIG.  20    is an enlarged structural diagram of area AA of the flexible device illustrated in  FIG.  18   . The flexible object  500  includes an isolation film  600  which is located on the side of the flexible object  500  facing towards the electromagnetic support cavity array  200 . At least one guide slot  700  is provided on a side of the isolation film  600  facing towards the electromagnetic support cavity array  200 , each guide slot  700  is provided with a guide member  800  capable of sliding along the respective guide slot  700 , and a respective one of the multiple electromagnetic support cavities  10  is connected to the guide member  800 . 
     It is noted that the number of guide members  800  is not limited by the embodiments of the present disclosure, and the number of electromagnetic support cavities  10  corresponding to the guide member(s)  800  may also be not limited by the embodiments of the present disclosure. For example, only part of the multiple electromagnetic support cavities  10  are connected to the guide member(s)  800 ; for another example, all of the multiple electromagnetic support cavities  10  are connected to the guide members  800  in one-to-one correspondence. 
     In conjunction with  FIGS.  18 ,  19 , and  20   , the flexible object  500  is provided with an isolation film  600  on the side of the flexible object  500  facing towards the electromagnetic support cavity array  200 , the isolation film  600  is provided with at least one guide slot  700  on the side of the isolation film  600  facing towards the electromagnetic support cavity array  200 , and a guide member  800  is provided within each guide slot  700 . When the flexible object  500  deforms, the guide member  800  slides within the guide slot  700  to achieve conforming between the flexible object  500  and the electromagnetic support cavities  10 ; besides, since the guide member  800  is capable of sliding along the corresponding guide slot  700 , the guide member  800  is prevented from disengaging from the guide slot  700  when sliding along the guide slot  700 . 
     On the basis of the above embodiments,  FIG.  21    is another sectional diagram of a flexible device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and  FIG.  22    is an enlarged view of area BB of the flexible device illustrated in  FIG.  21   . As shown in  FIG.  21    and  FIG.  22   , a snap structure  900  is provided on a side of the electromagnetic support cavity array  200  facing away from the support substrate, and the guide member  800  is engaged with the snap structure  900 . 
     With reference to  FIG.  21    and  FIG.  22   , the snap structure  900  is provided on the side of the electromagnetic support cavity array  200  facing away from the support substrate, so that the conforming between the electromagnetic support cavities  10  and the flexible object  500  is achieved by means of the engagement of the guide member  800  and the snap structure  900 . 
     The flexible device may further include a crimping/drawing receiving chamber. When the flexible object deforms, the flexible object may be crimped into the crimping/drawing receiving chamber or drawn from the crimping/drawing receiving chamber, and the flexible object is received by the crimping/drawing receiving chamber. 
     It is to be noted that the preceding are only alternative embodiments of the present disclosure and the technical principles used therein. It is to be understood by those skilled in the art that the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described herein. Those skilled in the art can make various apparent modifications, adaptations, combinations and substitutions without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, while the present disclosure has been described in detail via the preceding embodiments, the present disclosure is not limited to the preceding embodiments and may include equivalent embodiments without departing from the concept of the present disclosure. The scope of the present disclosure is determined by the scope of the appended claims.