Patent Description:
With development of display technologies, a flexible display apparatus, by virtue of its deformable and foldable properties, has become a display device with wide applications in the display field currently. The flexible display apparatus includes a display substrate (also referred to as a flexible display layer or a flexible display backplane) and a flexible display cover plate. The flexible display cover plate has relatively high strength and anti-impact performance, to protect the display substrate from external damage.

A current flexible display cover plate is usually made of a transparent thin film or an ultra-thin glass, and the transparent thin film may be a polyimide (PI) thin film. Because the flexible display cover plate needs to be deformable and foldable, a thickness of the transparent thin film or a thickness of the ultra-thin glass is usually less than <NUM> (mm). However, if the thickness of the transparent thin film is less than <NUM>, a buffer effect is relatively small when the flexible thin film receives external force; and if the thickness of the ultra-thin glass is less than <NUM>, the ultra-thin glass is fragile-prone when the ultra-thin glass receives external force. Consequently, the current flexible display cover plate provides a relatively small protection effect for the display substrate.

<CIT> describes a flexible display screen cover board that has a composite stacking structure. The composite stacking structure comprises at least one flexible glass layer and at least one organic layer which are in stacked arrangement. Further prior art useful for understanding the background of the present invention is described in <CIT>, <CIT>, and <CIT>.

The present invention provides a flexible display cover plate, a display panel and a display apparatus according to the independent claims. Particular embodiments of the present invention are defined by the dependent claims. This application further provides a flexible display cover plate, a display panel, and a display apparatus, to reduce damage caused by external force to a display substrate, and improve a protection effect provided for the display substrate.

According to a first aspect, a flexible display cover plate is provided, including:.

When the flexible display cover plate receives external force, an impact effect caused by the external force to the flexible display cover plate are successively transferred from a force-bearing point to the first cover-plate layer and all auxiliary protective layers. In the impact effect transfer process, the first cover-plate layer, the bonding layer in the auxiliary protective layer, and the second cover-plate layer all can absorb and diffuse some impact, thereby reducing or eliminating the impact received by the display substrate.

In an optional implementation, the first cover-plate layer and/or the second cover-plate layer include/includes an ultra-thin glass.

Optionally, a thickness of the ultra-thin glass is from <NUM> to <NUM>. For example, the thickness of the ultra-thin glass may be <NUM>, <NUM>, or <NUM>.

For example, the first cover-plate layer includes the ultra-thin glass and a protective coating layer disposed on a face that is of the ultra-thin glass and that is close to the second cover-plate layer. A material of the protective coating layer may be a polymer material or an inorganic material, and a thickness of the protective coating layer may be <NUM> (µm) to <NUM>. Because a relatively large quantity of microcracks may occur during processing the ultra-thin glass, when the ultra-thin glass receives external force, the microcracks first crack, and further cause the ultra-thin glass to crack. The protective coating layer may fill the microcracks, to effectively protect the ultra-thin glass from cracking of the microcracks when the external force is received, thereby improving strength of the ultra-thin glass and improving performance of resistance to the external force received by the ultra-thin glass.

For example, the second cover-plate layer includes the ultra-thin glass and a protective coating layer that is disposed on at least one face of the ultra-thin glass.

Optionally, in an optional implementation, an orthographic projection region, on the first cover-plate layer, that is of the second cover-plate layer overlaps a region enclosed by edges of the first cover-plate layer. In another optional implementation, an orthographic projection region, on the first cover-plate layer, that is of the second cover-plate layer is located inside a region enclosed by edges of the first cover-plate layer. That is, an area of the second cover-plate layer is less than an area of the first cover-plate layer, and an edge of the second cover-plate layer does not protrude from the edge of the first cover-plate layer. For example, a length of the second cover-plate layer is less than a length of the first cover-plate layer, and/or a width of the second cover-plate layer is less than a width of the first cover-plate layer. For example, the length of the second cover-plate layer is <NUM>% to <NUM>% of the length of the first cover-plate layer, and/or the width of the second cover-plate layer is <NUM>% to <NUM>% of the width of the first cover-plate layer.

Optionally, a gap space is enclosed by a face that is of the bonding layer and that faces the second cover-plate layer and a side face of the second cover-plate layer, where an orthographic projection of the gap space on the first cover-plate layer is an annular region. The annular region may be an annular region that is enclosed by the edges of the first cover-plate layer and edges of the orthographic projection, on the first cover-plate layer, that is of the second cover-plate layer.

Optionally, there may be an air medium in the gap space, or there may be a filling material. In this case, the auxiliary protective layer further includes a transparent filling material filled in a gap enclosed by the side face of the second cover-plate layer and the face that is of the bonding layer and that faces the second cover-plate layer.

Optionally, the transparent filling material is a flexible thin-film material or an optical clear adhesive material. For example, the transparent filling material may be PI, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), polycarbonate (PC), thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), optical clear adhesive (OCA), or ultraviolet (UV) curing adhesive.

In another optional implementation, the first cover-plate layer and/or the second cover-plate layer include/includes a flexible thin film.

Optionally, a thickness of the flexible thin film is from <NUM> to <NUM>, and/or a light transmittance of the flexible thin film is greater than or equal to <NUM>%. For example, the thickness of the flexible thin film may be <NUM>, <NUM>, or <NUM>, and the light transmittance of the flexible thin film may be <NUM>%, <NUM>%, or <NUM>%.

For example, the first cover-plate layer includes the flexible thin film and a hardened coating layer disposed on a face that is of the flexible thin film and that is away from the second cover-plate layer. A material of the hardened coating layer may be an organic material and/or an inorganic material. The hardened coating layer can improve scratch resistance performance of a surface of the first cover-plate layer, and reduce a probability that the surface of the first cover-plate layer is scratched, thereby improving a protection effect provided by the flexible display cover plate for the display substrate.

Optionally, a thickness of the hardened coating layer is from <NUM> to <NUM>, and/or a pencil hardness of the hardened coating layer is greater than or equal to <NUM>.

Optionally, the bonding layer further meets the following conditions:
a thickness of the bonding layer is from <NUM> to <NUM> ; and a material of the bonding layer is the optical clear adhesive material.

For example, the thickness of the bonding layer may be <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, or <NUM>.

The modulus of the bonding layer <NUM> is <NUM> MPa.

For example, the material of the bonding layer is optical clear adhesive OCA or ultraviolet UV adhesive.

Optionally, the at least one auxiliary protective layer includes a plurality of superimposed auxiliary protective layers. The plurality of superimposed auxiliary protective layers can increase a thickness of the flexible display cover plate, and further increase rigidness of the flexible display cover plate. When the external force is received, the plurality of auxiliary protective layers all can absorb and diffuse the impact of the external force, so that the external force received by the display substrate is reduced, thereby improving the impact effect provided for the display substrate.

According to a second aspect, a display panel is provided, including:
a flexible display cover plate and a display substrate, where the flexible display cover plate is the flexible display cover plate according to the first aspect, and the flexible display cover plate is disposed on the display substrate, and a face that is of a second cover-plate layer and that is away from a first cover-plate layer is attached to the display substrate.

Optionally, the display panel may be a flexible display panel.

According to a third aspect, a display apparatus is provided, including:.

For example, the foldable housing includes a first sub-housing, a second sub-housing, and a hinge, where the first sub-housing and the second sub-housing are moveably connected by using the hinge to enclose the cavity, and some of edges of the flexible display cover plate are fixedly connected to the first sub-housing, and the other of the edges are fixedly connected to the second sub-housing.

Optionally, both the flexible display cover plate and the display substrate are in a rectangular shape, the edges of the flexible display cover plate are respectively parallel to edges of the display substrate, at least two opposite edges of the flexible display cover plate protrude from the edges of the display substrate, and some of the at least two opposite edges on a face that is of the flexible display cover plate and that faces the display substrate are glued to the first sub-housing, and the other of the at least two opposite edges are glued to the second sub-housing.

The technical solutions provided in this application may bring at least the following beneficial effects.

According to the flexible display cover plate, the display panel, and the display apparatus provided in this application, when the flexible display cover plate receives the external force, both the first cover-plate layer and the auxiliary protective layer can absorb and diffuse the impact of the external force, so that the external force received by the display substrate is reduced, and damage caused by the external force to the display substrate is reduced, thereby improving the protection effect provided for the display substrate. In addition, when the flexible display cover plate is folded, the bonding layer expands to the edges of the flexible display cover plate due to deformation, so that changes of the first cover-plate layer and the second cover-plate layer are reduced in a tensile modulus and a thickness during folding, and the rigidness of the flexible display cover plate at a same bending radius is increased, thereby improving the protection effect provided for the display substrate.

A current flexible display cover plate is usually made of a transparent thin film or an ultra-thin glass.

When the flexible display cover plate is made of the transparent thin film, refer to <FIG> is a schematic structural diagram of a conventional flexible display cover plate <NUM>. The flexible display cover plate <NUM> includes a transparent bonding layer <NUM>, a PI thin film <NUM> disposed on a face of the transparent bonding layer <NUM>, and a hardening film <NUM> disposed on a face that is of the PI thin film <NUM> and that is away from the transparent bonding layer <NUM>, where a face that is of the transparent bonding layer <NUM> and that is away from the PI thin film <NUM> is used to attach to a display substrate. To enable the flexible display cover plate <NUM> to be deformable and foldable, a thickness of the PI thin film <NUM> is usually less than <NUM>. If the thickness of the PI thin film <NUM> is less than <NUM>, a buffer effect is relatively small when the flexible display cover plate <NUM> receives external force. Consequently, the flexible display cover plate <NUM> provides a relatively small protection effect for the display substrate. In addition, as the flexible display cover plate <NUM> has relatively poor rigidness, a surface is uneven after the flexible display cover plate <NUM> is attached to the display substrate, resulting in relatively poor surface delicacy of the flexible display cover plate.

When the flexible display cover plate is made of the ultra-thin glass, refer to <FIG> is a schematic structural diagram of another conventional flexible display cover plate <NUM>. The flexible display cover plate <NUM> includes a transparent bonding layer <NUM> and an ultra-thin glass <NUM> that is disposed on a face of the transparent bonding layer <NUM>, where the face that is of the transparent bonding layer <NUM> and that is away from the ultra-thin glass <NUM> is used to attach to a display substrate. To enable the flexible display cover plate to be deformable and foldable, a thickness of the ultra-thin glass <NUM> is usually less than <NUM>. If the thickness of the ultra-thin glass <NUM> is less than <NUM>, the flexible display cover <NUM> has relatively poor rigidness, and the flexible display cover plate <NUM> is fragile-prone when the flexible display cover plate <NUM> receives external force. Consequently, the flexible display cover plate <NUM> provides.

An embodiment of this application provides a flexible display cover plate. <FIG> is a schematic structural diagram of a flexible display cover plate <NUM> according to an embodiment of this application. The flexible display cover plate <NUM> includes a first cover-plate layer <NUM> and at least one auxiliary protective layer <NUM> that is disposed on a face of the first cover-plate layer <NUM>. <FIG> uses an example in which the flexible display cover plate <NUM> includes one auxiliary protective layer <NUM> for description.

The auxiliary protective layer <NUM> includes a bonding layer <NUM> and a second cover-plate layer <NUM> that are superimposed along a direction away from the first cover-plate layer <NUM>, where the bonding layer <NUM> is a deformable film layer, and a face that is of the outermost second cover-plate layer <NUM> in the at least one auxiliary protective layer <NUM> and that is away from the bonding layer <NUM> is used to attach to a display substrate.

When the flexible display cover plate receives external force, an impact effect caused by the external force to the flexible display cover plate are successively transferred from a force-bearing point to the first cover-plate layer <NUM> and all auxiliary protective layers. In the impact effect transfer process, the first cover-plate layer <NUM>, both the bonding layer <NUM> and the second cover-plate layer <NUM> in the auxiliary protective layer <NUM> can absorb and diffuse some impact effect, so that the impact effect received by the display substrate is reduced or eliminated.

Further, refer to <FIG> is a schematic diagram of the flexible display cover plate <NUM> shown in <FIG> in a folded state. When the flexible display cover plate <NUM> is folded, the bonding layer <NUM> expands to edges of the flexible display cover plate <NUM> due to deformation of the bonding layer <NUM>. That is, the bonding layer <NUM> expands in a direction a and a direction b, so that changes of the first cover-plate layer <NUM> and the second cover-plate layer <NUM> are reduced in a tensile modulus and a thickness during folding. This can reduce a probability that problems such as cracks, whitening, and deformation occur on the first cover-plate layer <NUM> and the second cover-plate layer <NUM> during folding. In addition, a degree of the thickness change of the flexible display cover plate <NUM> during folding can be reduced. Compared with a related technology, a thickness of the flexible display cover plate <NUM> at a same bending radius is increased, thereby increasing rigidness of the flexible display cover plate <NUM> at the same bending radius.

A material of the bonding layer <NUM> has to meet the following condition <NUM> and may meet at least one of the following conditions <NUM> and <NUM>: <NUM>. A modulus (also referred to as an elastic modulus) of the bonding layer <NUM> is <NUM> MPa. The material of the bonding layer <NUM> is an optical clear adhesive material. A thickness of the bonding layer <NUM> may be from <NUM> to <NUM>. For example, the material of the bonding layer <NUM> may be a low-modulus optical clear adhesive material, to implement deformability of the bonding layer <NUM>. Further, the material of the bonding layer <NUM> may be an OCA or a UV curing adhesive whose moduli are less than or equal to <NUM> MPa. For example, the modulus of the bonding layer <NUM> may be <NUM> MPa, <NUM> MPa, or <NUM> MPa. For another example, the thickness of the bonding layer <NUM> may be <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, or <NUM>.

In conclusion, in the flexible display cover plate provided in this embodiment of this application, when the flexible display cover plate receives external force, both the first cover-plate layer and the auxiliary protective layer can absorb and diffuse impact of the external force, so that the external force received by the display substrate is reduced. This reduces damage caused by the external force to the display substrate, and improves the protection effect provided for the display substrate. In addition, when the flexible display cover plate is folded, the bonding layer expands to edges of the flexible display cover plate due to deformation, so that changes of the first cover-plate layer and the second cover-plate layer are reduced in a tensile modulus and a thickness during folding, and the rigidness of the flexible display cover plate at a same bending radius is increased, thereby improving the protection effect provided for the display substrate.

For example, in an optional implementation, the first cover-plate layer <NUM> and/or the second cover-plate layer <NUM> include/includes a flexible thin film. A material of the flexible thin film may be PI, PET, PEN, PC, TPU, PMMA, polyaramide (Polyaramide), and/or silicon gel. For example, a thickness of the flexible thin film may be from <NUM> to <NUM>. For example, the thickness of the flexible thin film may be <NUM>, <NUM>, or <NUM>. A light transmittance of the flexible thin film may be greater than or equal to <NUM>%. For example, the light transmittance of the flexible thin film may be <NUM>%, <NUM>%, or <NUM>%.

In another optional implementation, the first cover-plate layer <NUM> and/or the second cover-plate layer <NUM> include/includes an ultra-thin glass. The ultra-thin glass may be soda-lime glass, aluminosilicate glass, soda aluminosilicate glass, lithium aluminosilicate glass, or phosphorus aluminosilicate glass. For example, a thickness of the ultra-thin glass may be from <NUM> to <NUM>. For example, the thickness of the ultra-thin glass may be <NUM>, <NUM>, or <NUM>.

For the foregoing two optional implementations, the first cover-plate layer may be the flexible thin film or the ultra-thin glass, and the second cover-plate layer may be the flexible thin film or the ultra-thin glass. Correspondingly, there may be a plurality of combinations of the first cover-plate layer and the second cover-plate layer. In the embodiments of this application, the flexible display cover plate is further described by using the following several feasible implementations as examples.

In a first feasible implementation, both the first cover-plate layer <NUM> and the second cover-plate layer <NUM> include the flexible thin film. <FIG> is a schematic structural diagram of another flexible display cover plate <NUM> according to an embodiment of this application. A first cover-plate layer <NUM> includes a flexible thin film <NUM> and a hardened coating layer <NUM> disposed on a face that is of the flexible thin film <NUM> and that is away from a second cover-plate layer <NUM>. A thickness of the flexible thin film <NUM> is from <NUM> to <NUM>, and a light transmittance of the flexible thin film <NUM> is greater than or equal to <NUM>%. A material of the hardened coating layer <NUM> may be an organic material and/or an inorganic material. For example, the organic material may be acrylic resin, epoxy resin, silicone resin, and/or siloxane; and the inorganic material may be silicon dioxide, aluminum oxide, zirconium oxide, graphene, and/or diamond. For example, a thickness of the hardened coating layer <NUM> may be from <NUM> to <NUM>. For example, the thickness of the hardened coating layer <NUM> may be <NUM>, <NUM>, or <NUM>. A pencil hardness of the hardened coating layer <NUM> may be greater than or equal to <NUM>, so that scratch resistance performance of a surface of the first cover-plate layer <NUM> can be improved, and a probability that the surface of the first cover-plate layer <NUM> is scratched is reduced, thereby improving a protection effect provided by the flexible display cover plate <NUM> for a display substrate. The second cover-plate layer <NUM> includes a flexible thin film <NUM>, a thickness of the flexible thin film <NUM> is from <NUM> to <NUM>, and a light transmittance of the flexible thin film <NUM> is greater than or equal to <NUM>%. The pencil hardness is a hardness of a film layer that is obtained by testing the hardness of the film layer by using a drawing lead or pencil lead with a given hardness. For example, the pencil hardness may be obtained through testing by exerting a load of <NUM> kgf according to an ASTM D3363 standard.

In the first feasible implementation, the hardened coating layer <NUM> is disposed on the face that is of the flexible thin film <NUM> and that is away from the second cover-plate layer <NUM>, so that the scratch resistance performance of the surface of the first cover-plate layer <NUM> can be improved, and the protection effect provided by the flexible display cover plate <NUM> for the display substrate is improved. The flexible display cover plate <NUM> in the first feasible implementation can be folded inward or outward for <NUM>,<NUM> times. A pencil hardness of the flexible display cover plate <NUM> can be up to <NUM> or above. In addition, when the flexible display cover plate <NUM> is applied to a display apparatus, the display apparatus is not damaged when a pencil falling test is conducted at a height of <NUM> centimetre (cm). A process of the pencil falling test is as follows: freely dropping a pencil toward a face of the display cover plate of the display apparatus, and after the pencil freely falls on the display cover plate, testing whether the display apparatus is damaged. For example, the pencil may have a weight of <NUM> gram (g), and have a nib with a diameter of <NUM>.

In a second feasible implementation, the first cover-plate layer <NUM> includes the ultra-thin glass, and the second cover-plate layer <NUM> includes the flexible thin film. <FIG> is a schematic structural diagram of yet another flexible display cover plate <NUM> according to an embodiment of this application. The first cover-plate layer <NUM> includes an ultra-thin glass <NUM> and a protective coating layer <NUM> disposed on a face that is of the ultra-thin glass <NUM> and that is close to the second cover-plate layer <NUM>. A thickness of the ultra-thin glass <NUM> may be from <NUM> to <NUM>, and a light transmittance of the ultra-thin glass <NUM> is greater than or equal to <NUM>%. A material of the protective coating layer <NUM> may be a polymer material or an inorganic material. A thickness of the protective coating layer <NUM> may be from <NUM> to <NUM>. The second cover-plate layer <NUM> includes a flexible thin film <NUM>. For a specific structure of the second cover-plate layer <NUM>, refer to the second cover-plate layer <NUM> shown in <FIG>. Details are not described herein again in this embodiment of this application.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram of a principle for causing cracks in an ultra-thin glass <NUM> according to an embodiment of this application. A relatively large quantity of microcracks c may occur in the ultra-thin glass <NUM> in a processing process. When the ultra-thin glass <NUM> receives an external force, the microcracks c first crack, and further cause the ultra-thin glass <NUM> to crack. <FIG> is a schematic diagram of a related principle for protecting the ultra-thin glass <NUM> by using a protective coating layer <NUM> according to an embodiment of this application. The protective coating layer <NUM> may fill the microcracks c, to effectively protect the ultra-thin glass <NUM> from cracks of the microcracks c when the external force is received, thereby improving strength of the ultra-thin glass <NUM> and improving performance of resistance to the external force received by the ultra-thin glass <NUM>.

In the second feasible implementation, the protective coating layer <NUM> disposed on the face that is of the ultra-thin glass <NUM> and that is close to the second cover-plate layer <NUM> can improve the strength of the ultra-thin glass <NUM>, and improve the performance of resistance to the external force received by the ultra-thin glass <NUM>, thereby improving a protection effect provided by the flexible display cover plate <NUM> for a display substrate. In the second feasible implementation, the flexible display cover plate can be folded inward or outward for <NUM>,<NUM> times, a pencil hardness of the flexible display cover plate can be up to <NUM> or above. In addition, when the flexible display cover plate is applied to a display apparatus, the display apparatus is not damaged when a pencil falling test is conducted at a height of <NUM>.

In a third feasible implementation, the first cover-plate layer <NUM> includes the flexible thin film, and the second cover-plate layer <NUM> includes the ultra-thin glass. <FIG> is a schematic structural diagram of another flexible display cover plate <NUM> according to an embodiment of this application. The first cover-plate layer <NUM> includes a flexible thin film <NUM> and a hardened coating layer <NUM> disposed on a face that is of the flexible thin film <NUM> and that is away from the second cover-plate layer <NUM>. For the first cover-plate layer <NUM>, refer to the first cover-plate layer <NUM> shown in <FIG>. Details are not described herein again in this embodiment of this application. The second cover-plate layer <NUM> includes an ultra-thin glass <NUM> and a protective coating layer <NUM> that is disposed on at least one face of the ultra-thin glass <NUM>. <FIG> uses an example in which the protective coating layers <NUM> are disposed on two faces of the ultra-thin glass <NUM> for description. A thickness of the ultra-thin glass <NUM> may be from <NUM> to <NUM>, and a light transmittance of the ultra-thin glass <NUM> is greater than or equal to <NUM>%.

In the third feasible implementation, the hardened coating layer <NUM> is disposed on the face that is of the flexible thin film <NUM> and that is away from the second cover-plate layer <NUM>, so that scratch resistance performance of a surface of the first cover-plate layer <NUM> can be improved, and a protection effect provided by the flexible display cover plate <NUM> for a display substrate is improved. The protective coating layer <NUM> that is disposed on at least one face of the ultra-thin glass <NUM> can improve strength of the ultra-thin glass <NUM>, and improve performance of resistance to the external force received by the ultra-thin glass <NUM>, thereby improving the protection effect provided by the flexible display cover plate <NUM> for the display substrate. The protective coating layers <NUM> that are disposed on the two faces of the ultra-thin glass <NUM> can further improve the strength of the ultra-thin glass <NUM>, and improve the performance of resistance to the external force received by the ultra-thin glass <NUM>, thereby improving the protection effect provided by the flexible display cover plate <NUM> for the display substrate.

Optionally, in a first optional implementation, an orthographic projection region, the first cover-plate layer <NUM>, that is of the second cover-plate layer <NUM> overlaps a region enclosed by edges of the first cover-plate layer <NUM>. In a second optional implementation, an orthographic projection region, on the first cover-plate layer <NUM>, that is of the second cover-plate layer <NUM> may be located inside a region enclosed by edges of the first cover-plate layer <NUM>. That is, an area of the second cover-plate layer <NUM> is less than an area of the first cover-plate layer <NUM>, and an edge of the second cover-plate layer <NUM> does not protrude from the edge of the first cover-plate layer <NUM>. For example, a length of the second cover-plate layer <NUM> is less than a length of the first cover-plate layer <NUM>, and/or a width of the second cover-plate layer <NUM> is less than a width of the first cover-plate layer <NUM>. For example, the length of the second cover-plate layer <NUM> may be <NUM>% to <NUM>% of the length of the first cover-plate layer <NUM>, and/or the width of the second cover-plate layer <NUM> may be <NUM>% to <NUM>% of the width of the first cover-plate layer <NUM>.

For example, <FIG> is a schematic structural diagram of still another flexible display cover plate <NUM> according to an embodiment of this application. A gap space <NUM> is enclosed by a face that is of a bonding layer <NUM> and that faces a second cover-plate layer <NUM> and a side face of the second cover-plate layer <NUM>. An orthographic projection that is of the gap space <NUM> and that is located in a first cover-plate layer <NUM> is located inside a region enclosed by edges of the first cover-plate layer <NUM>.

For example, <FIG> is a schematic top view of a flexible display cover plate <NUM> according to an embodiment of this application. An orthographic projection, on a first cover-plate layer <NUM>, that is of a gap space <NUM> is an annular region. The annular region may be an annular region that is enclosed by edges of the first cover-plate layer <NUM> and edges of an orthographic projection, on the first cover-plate layer <NUM>, that is of a second cover-plate layer <NUM>. When the second cover-plate layer <NUM> includes an ultra-thin glass <NUM>, because the ultra-thin glass <NUM> has a higher hardness than a flexible thin film, the ultra-thin glass <NUM> is prone to crack when the ultra-thin glass <NUM> is directly in contact with an external surface. Therefore, the gap space <NUM> can protect the ultra-thin glass <NUM> from direct contact with the external surface. This reduces a probability that cracks occur on a flexible display apparatus when the flexible display apparatus receives external collision, and improves a strength of the flexible display cover plate <NUM>.

In an optional implementation, there is an air medium in the gap space <NUM>. In another optional implementation, the foregoing auxiliary protective layer <NUM> further includes a transparent filling material filled in a gap enclosed by the side face of the second cover-plate layer <NUM> and the face that is of the bonding layer <NUM> and that faces the second cover-plate layer <NUM>. For example, the transparent filling material may be a flexible thin-film material or an optical clear adhesive material. For example, the transparent filling material may be PI, PET, PEN, PC, TPU, PMMA, polyaramide, OCA, or UV curing adhesive.

Optionally, in the flexible display cover plate <NUM> provided in the embodiments of this application, the at least one auxiliary protective layer <NUM> may include a plurality of superimposed auxiliary protective layers <NUM>. The plurality of superimposed auxiliary protective layers <NUM> can increase a thickness of the flexible display cover plate <NUM>, and further increase rigidness of the flexible display cover plate <NUM>. When the display substrate receives external force, the plurality of auxiliary protective layers all can absorb and diffuse impact of the external force, so that the external force received by the display substrate is reduced, thereby improving a protection effect provided for the display substrate.

For example, <FIG> is a schematic structural diagram of still another flexible display cover plate <NUM> according to an embodiment of this application. In <FIG>, at least one auxiliary protective layer <NUM> includes two superimposed auxiliary protective layers <NUM>. For both a first cover-plate layer <NUM> and the auxiliary protective layer <NUM> in the flexible display cover plate <NUM>, refer to any flexible display cover plate <NUM> provided in the embodiments of this application. Details are not described herein again in this embodiment of this application. It should be noted that the flexible display cover plate shown in <FIG> can be folded inward or outward for <NUM>,<NUM> times. A pencil hardness of the flexible display cover plate can be up to <NUM> or above. In addition, when the flexible display cover plate is applied to a display apparatus, the display apparatus is not damaged when a pencil falling test is conducted at a height of <NUM>.

Optionally, when the at least one auxiliary protective layer <NUM> includes a plurality of superimposed auxiliary protective layers <NUM>, it is assumed that at least one second cover-plate layer <NUM> in the plurality of auxiliary protective layers <NUM> includes an ultra-thin glass, and that an orthographic projection region, on first cover-plate layer <NUM>, that is of the second cover-plate layer <NUM> including the ultra-thin glass is located inside a region enclosed by edges of the first cover-plate layer <NUM> (that is, an area of the second cover-plate layer <NUM> is less than an area of the first cover-plate layer <NUM>, and an edge of the second cover-plate layer <NUM> does not protrude from the edge of the first cover-plate layer <NUM>). In an optional example, an orthographic projection region, on the ultra-thin glass, that is of a bonding layer <NUM> in the auxiliary protective layer <NUM> in which the ultra-thin glass is located may overlap a region enclosed by edges of the ultra-thin glass (that is, a shape and a size of the bonding layer <NUM> are the same as those of the ultra-thin glass). In another optional example, an orthographic projection region, on the ultra-thin glass, that is of a bonding layer <NUM> in the auxiliary protective layer <NUM> in which the ultra-thin glass is located may be located outside a region enclosed by edges of the ultra-thin glass (that is, an area of the bonding layer <NUM> is greater than an area of the ultra-thin glass, and an edge of the bonding layer <NUM> protrudes from the edge of the ultra-thin glass).

Further, when the second cover-plate layer <NUM> in the auxiliary protective layer <NUM> that is adjacent to the auxiliary protective layer <NUM> in which the ultra-thin glass is located includes a flexible thin film, in a first optional example, the orthographic projection region of the bonding layer <NUM>, on the ultra-thin glass, that is in the auxiliary protective layer <NUM> in which the flexible thin film is located may overlap the region enclosed by the edges of the ultra-thin glass (that is, the bonding layer <NUM> has the same shape and size as those of the ultra-thin glass). In this case, for the flexible thin film in this case, an orthographic projection region, on the ultra-thin glass, of the flexible thin film may overlap the region enclosed by the edges of the ultra-thin glass (that is, a shape and a size of the flexible thin film are the same as those of the ultra-thin glass). The orthographic projection region, on the ultra-thin glass, of the flexible thin film may also be located outside the region enclosed by the edges of the ultra-thin glass (that is, an area of the flexible thin film is greater than the area of the ultra-thin glass, and an edge of the flexible thin film protrudes from the edge of the ultra-thin glass). In another optional example, an orthographic projection region, on the ultra-thin glass, that is of the bonding layer <NUM> in the auxiliary protective layer <NUM> in which the flexible thin film is located may be located outside the region enclosed by the edges of the ultra-thin glass (that is, the area of the bonding layer <NUM> is greater than the area of the ultra-thin glass, and the edge of the bonding layer <NUM> protrudes from the edge of the ultra-thin glass).

According to the flexible display cover plate <NUM> provided in this embodiment of this application, when external force is received, the first cover-plate layer <NUM>, the bonding layer <NUM>, and the second cover-plate layer <NUM> all can absorb and diffuse impact of the external force, so that damage caused by the external force to the display substrate is reduced, thereby improving a protection effect provided for the display substrate. In addition, a multi-layer structure of the flexible display cover plate <NUM> can increase rigidness of the flexible display cover plate <NUM>, to make a surface smooth after the flexible display cover plate <NUM> is attached to the display substrate, thereby improving surface delicacy of the flexible display cover plate <NUM>.

It should be noted that the flexible display cover plate <NUM> provided in this embodiment of this application usually does not have a display function. However, because the flexible display cover plate <NUM> is attached to the display substrate, a finally formed display panel has the display function. Therefore, a flexible display cover plate is called.

In conclusion, in the flexible display cover plate provided in the embodiments of this application, when external force is received, both the first cover-plate layer and the auxiliary protective layer can absorb and diffuse the impact of the external force, so that the external force received by the display substrate is reduced, and damage caused by the external force to the display substrate is reduced, thereby improving the protection effect provided for the display substrate. In addition, when the flexible display cover plate is folded, the bonding layer expands to edges of the flexible display cover plate due to deformation, so that changes of the first cover-plate layer and the second cover-plate layer are reduced in a tensile modulus and a thickness during folding, and rigidness of the flexible display cover plate at a same bending radius is increased, thereby improving the protection effect provided for the display substrate. Further, the multi-layer structure of the flexible display cover plate can increase the rigidness of the flexible display cover plate, to make the surface smooth after the flexible display cover plate is attached to the display substrate, thereby improving the surface delicacy of the flexible display cover plate.

An embodiment of this application provides a display panel <NUM>. For example, referring to <FIG>, the display panel <NUM> includes a flexible display cover plate <NUM> and a display substrate <NUM>. The flexible display cover plate <NUM> is any flexible display cover plate provided in the embodiments of this application. The flexible display cover plate <NUM> is disposed on the display substrate <NUM>, and a face that is of the second cover-plate layer <NUM> and that is away from the first cover-plate layer <NUM> is attached to the display substrate <NUM>. For example, the display substrate <NUM> may be a flexible display substrate.

Optionally, the face that is of the second cover-plate layer <NUM> and that is away from the first cover-plate layer <NUM> may be glued to the display substrate <NUM>. An adhesive process may be as follows: placing the flexible display cover plate <NUM> on a bearing machine, applying glass cement on the flexible display cover plate <NUM>, aligning the display substrate <NUM> with the flexible display cover plate <NUM>, and moving and heating the glass cement by using a laser beam to melt the glass cement, so that the flexible display cover plate <NUM> and the display substrate <NUM> are sealingly connected by using the melted glass cement.

For example, the display panel <NUM> may be a flexible display panel. Further, the display panel may be a flexible organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display panel, a flexible quantum dot light emitting diode (QLED), or the like. This is not limited in this embodiment of this application.

An embodiment of this application provides a display apparatus. Referring to <FIG>, the display apparatus includes a display panel <NUM> and a foldable housing <NUM>. The display panel <NUM> is any display panel according to the embodiments of this application.

For example, the foldable housing <NUM> has a cavity with an opening on one face. As shown in <FIG>, the cavity is a semi-closed cavity, and the cavity has the opening on one face. The display panel <NUM> is accommodated into the cavity by using the opening, and is fixedly connected to an inner wall of the cavity. In an example, the foldable housing <NUM> is made of a deformable material by using an injection molding technology. That is, the foldable housing <NUM> is an all-in-one structure.

In another example, the foldable housing <NUM> includes a first sub-housing <NUM>, a second sub-housing <NUM>, and a hinge <NUM>. The first sub-housing <NUM> and the second sub-housing <NUM> are moveably connected by using the hinge <NUM> to enclose the cavity. For example, the cavity may be a rectangular cavity, or may be an irregular cavity. Edges of the flexible display cover plate <NUM> are fixedly connected to both the first sub-housing <NUM> and the second sub-housing <NUM>. That is, some edges of the flexible display cover plate <NUM> are fixedly connected to the first sub-housing <NUM>, and the other edges are fixedly connected to the second sub-housing. For example, the edges of the flexible display cover plate <NUM> may be fixedly attached to both the first sub-housing <NUM> and the second sub-housing <NUM>. For example, the edges of the flexible display cover plate <NUM> may be glued to both the first sub-housing <NUM> and the second sub-housing <NUM>.

For example, the flexible display cover plate <NUM> and the display substrate <NUM> are both in a rectangular shape. The edges of the flexible display cover plate <NUM> are respectively parallel to edges of the display substrate <NUM>, and at least two opposite edges of the flexible display cover plate <NUM> protrude from the edges of the display substrate <NUM>. Some of the at least two opposite edges on a face that is of the flexible display cover plate <NUM> and that faces the display substrate <NUM> are glued to the first sub-housing <NUM>, and the other of the at least two opposite edges are glued to the second sub-housing <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, an edge a and an edge b are two opposite edges on the face that is of the flexible display cover plate <NUM> and that faces the display substrate <NUM>. The edge a is glued to the first sub-housing <NUM>, and the edge b is glued to the second sub-housing <NUM>. Further, two edges that are perpendicular to the edge a and the edge b in <FIG> may also be glued to the first sub-housing <NUM> and the second sub-housing <NUM>. A half of each of the two edges that are perpendicular to the edge a and the edge b is glued to the first sub-housing <NUM>, and the other half is glued to the second sub-housing <NUM>. Four edges of the face that is of the flexible display cover plate <NUM> and that faces the display substrate <NUM> are glued to the first sub-housing <NUM> and the second sub-housing <NUM>, so that the display panel <NUM> is effectively and fixedly connected to the foldable housing <NUM>, and a closed cavity formed between the display panel <NUM> and the foldable housing <NUM> can isolate a component placed in the cavity from hydroxide, thereby slowing aging of the component. It should be noted that there is usually a gap R between a side edge of the flexible display cover plate <NUM> and an interior of the cavity of the foldable housing <NUM>. The gap R may provide a buffer space for the flexible display cover plate <NUM> when the display apparatus is folded, to protect the flexible display cover plate <NUM> from damage caused by extrusion between the side edge of the flexible display cover plate <NUM> and an inner wall of the cavity in the folding process of the display apparatus.

It should be noted that at least one of the four edges of the face that is of the flexible display cover plate <NUM> and that faces the display substrate <NUM> is glued to the first sub-housing <NUM>, and the other at least one edge is glued to the second sub-housing <NUM>.

For example, the foregoing display apparatus may further include a housing, a printed circuit board (PCB), a chip, and the like. The housing, the PCB, and the chip are all located in the foregoing cavity. For example, the housing, the PCB, and the chip may be disposed in the cavity between the foldable housing <NUM> and the face that is of the display substrate <NUM> and that faces the foldable housing <NUM>.

For example, the display apparatus usually further includes a processor and a memory.

The processor may include one or more processing cores, for example, may be a <NUM>-core processor or an <NUM>-core processor. The processor may be implemented in at least one hardware form of digital signal processing (DSP), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), or a programmable logic array (PLA). The processor may also include a main processor and a coprocessor. The main processor is a processor that is configured to process data in a wake-up state, and is also referred to as a central processing unit (CPU). The coprocessor is a low-power-consumption processor configured to process data in a standby state. Optionally, a graphics processing unit (GPU) may be integrated in the processor, and the GPU is configured to be responsible for rendering and drawing content that needs to be displayed on the display panel <NUM>. Optionally, the processor may further include an artificial intelligence (AI) processor, and the AI processor is configured to process a computing operation related to machine learning.

The memory may include one or more computer readable storage media, where the computer readable storage media may be non-transient. The memory may further include a high-speed random access memory and a non-volatile memory, such as one or more magnetic disk storage devices or flash memory storage devices.

Optionally, the display apparatus may further include a peripheral device interface and at least one peripheral device. The processor, the memory, and the peripheral device interface may be connected by using a bus or a signal cable. All the peripheral devices may be connected to the peripheral device interface by using the bus, the signal cable, or the circuit board. Specifically, the peripheral device may include at least one of a radio frequency circuit, a camera, an audio circuit, a positioning component, and a power supply component.

The peripheral device interface may be configured to connect at least one peripheral device related to input/output (I/O) to the processor and the memory. In a feasible implementation, the processor, the memory, and the peripheral device interface are integrated on one chip or one circuit board. In another feasible implementation, any one or two of the processors, the memory, and the peripheral device interface may be implemented on a separate chip or a separate circuit board. This is not limited in this embodiment of this application.

The radio frequency circuit is configured to receive and transmit a radio frequency (RF) signal, which is also referred to as an electromagnetic signal. The radio frequency circuit communicates with a communications network and another communications device by using the electromagnetic signal. The radio frequency circuit converts an electrical signal into an electromagnetic signal for transmission, or the radio frequency circuit converts a received electromagnetic signal into an electrical signal. Optionally, the radio frequency circuit includes an antenna system, an RF transceiver, one or more amplifiers, a tuner, an oscillator, a digital signal processor, a codec chip set, a subscriber identity module card, and the like. The radio frequency circuit may communicate with another display apparatus by using at least one wireless communications protocol. The wireless communications protocol includes but is not limited to a world wide web, a metropolitan area network, an intranet, mobile communications networks of generations (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>), a wireless local area network, and/or a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) network. Optionally, the radio frequency circuit may further include a circuit related to near field communication (NFC). This is not limited in this embodiment of this application.

The camera component is configured to collect an image or a video. Optionally, the camera component includes a front camera and a rear camera. Generally, the front camera is disposed in front of the display apparatus, and the rear camera is disposed at the rear of the display apparatus. Optionally, there are at least two rear cameras: a primary camera, and at least one of a depth camera, a wide-angle lens, and a long-focus camera, to implement a background blurring function implemented through fusion of the primary camera and the depth camera, and to implement a panoramic shooting function, a virtual reality (VR) shooting function, and another fusion shooting function implemented through fusion of the primary camera and the wide-angle camera. Optionally, the camera component may further include a flash. The flash may be a single-color temperature flash or a dual-color temperature flash. The dual-color temperature flash is a combination of a warm-light flash and a cold-light flash, and the dual-color temperature flash may be configured for light compensation at different color temperatures.

The audio circuit may include a microphone and a loudspeaker. The microphone is configured to collect a sound wave of a user and an environment, convert the sound wave into an electrical signal, and input the electrical signal to the processor for processing, or input the electrical signal to the radio frequency circuit to implement voice communication. For a purpose of stereo collection or noise reduction, there may be a plurality of microphones that are disposed at different parts of the display apparatus. The microphone may be an array microphone or an omnidirectional-acquisition microphone. The loudspeaker is configured to convert an electrical signal from the processor or the radio frequency circuit into a sound wave. The loudspeaker may be a conventional thin-film loudspeaker, or may be a piezoelectric ceramic loudspeaker. When the loudspeaker is the piezoelectric ceramic loudspeaker, an electrical signal may be converted into a sound wave audible to human being, and an electrical signal may be converted into a sound wave inaudible to human being for a ranging purpose. Optionally, the audio circuit may further include a headset jack.

The positioning component is configured to position a current geographical location of the display apparatus, to implement navigation or a location based service (LBS). The positioning component may be a positioning component based on a global positioning system (GPS) of the United States, a BeiDou system of China, or a Galileo system of Russia.

The power supply component is configured to supply power to the display panel <NUM>. The power supply component may include a power input port connected to an external power supply, and/or a power supply battery. When the power supply component includes the power input port, the power input port may be disposed on a side face of the display panel. The power input port may be a universal serial bus (USB) interface. When the power supply component includes the power supply battery, the power supply battery may be disposed on a rear face (that is, a face that is away from the display panel <NUM> and that displays an image) of a specific sub-support plate. The power supply battery may be a lithium-ion battery.

Optionally, the display apparatus further includes one or more sensors. The one or more sensors include but are not limited to an acceleration sensor, a gyro sensor, a pressure sensor, a fingerprint sensor, an optical sensor, and a proximity sensor.

The acceleration sensor may detect acceleration magnitude on three coordinate axes of a coordinate system established by the display apparatus. For example, the acceleration sensor may be configured to detect components of a gravity acceleration on the three coordinate axes. The processor may control, based on a gravity acceleration signal collected by the acceleration sensor, the display panel <NUM> to display a user interface in a horizontal view or a vertical view. The acceleration sensor may be further configured to collect game data or motion data of a user.

The gyro sensor may detect a body direction and a rotation angle of the display apparatus, and the gyro sensor may collect, in collaboration with the acceleration sensor, a three-dimensional (3D) action performed by a user on the display apparatus. The processor may implement, based on data collected by the gyro sensor, the following functions: action sensing (for example, changing a user interface based on a tilt operation of the user), image stabilization during shooting, game control, and inertial navigation.

The pressure sensor may be disposed on a side frame of the display apparatus and/or a lower layer of the display panel <NUM>. When the pressure sensor is disposed on the side frame of the display apparatus, the pressure sensor may detect a holding signal performed by a user for the display apparatus, and the processor performs, based on the holding signal collected by the pressure sensor, a right/left hand recognition or a shortcut operation. When the pressure sensor is disposed on the lower layer of the display panel <NUM>, the processor controls, based on a pressure operation performed by the user on the display panel <NUM>, an operability control on the user interface. The operability control includes at least one of a button control, a scroll bar control, an icon control, and a menu control.

The fingerprint sensor is configured to collect a fingerprint of a user, and the processor identifies an identity of the user based on the fingerprint collected by the fingerprint sensor or the fingerprint sensor identifies an identity of the user based on the fingerprint collected by the fingerprint sensor. When identifying that the identity of the user is a trustable identity, the processor authorizes the user to perform a related sensitive operation, where the sensitive operation includes unlocking a screen, viewing encrypted information, downloading software, making payment, changing a setting, and the like. The fingerprint sensor may be disposed on a front face, a rear face, or a side face of the display apparatus. When a physical button or a trademark (LOGO type, LOGO) of a manufacturer is disposed on the display apparatus, the fingerprint sensor may be integrated with the physical button or the trademark of the manufacturer.

The optical sensor is configured to collect ambient light intensity. For example, the processor may control display brightness of the display panel <NUM> based on the ambient light intensity collected by the optical sensor. Specifically, in a case of relatively high ambient light intensity, the display brightness of the display panel is increased; and in a case of relatively low ambient light intensity, the display brightness of the display panel <NUM> is decreased. For example, the processor may further dynamically adjust a shooting parameter of the camera component based on the ambient light intensity collected by the optical sensor.

The proximity sensor, also referred to as a distance sensor, is usually disposed on a front panel of the display apparatus. The proximity sensor is configured to collect a distance between a user and a front face of the display apparatus. For example, when the proximity sensor detects that the distance between the user and the front face of the display apparatus gradually decreases, the processor controls the display panel <NUM> to switch from a screen-on state to a screen-off state. When the proximity sensor detects that the distance between the user and the front face of the display apparatus gradually increases, the processor controls the display panel <NUM> to switch from the screen-off state to the screen-on state.

A person skilled in the art may understand that the foregoing structure does not constitute any limitation on the display apparatus. The display apparatus may include more or fewer components than the foregoing, or combine some components, or use a different component arrangement.

The display apparatus provided in this embodiment of this application may be a flexible display apparatus. The flexible display apparatus may be any product or component with a foldable display function, such as an electronic map, an electronic paper, a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a display screen, a notebook computer, or a wearable device.

For example, <FIG> is a schematic structural diagram of a mobile phone according to an embodiment of this application. The mobile phone includes a display panel <NUM> and a foldable housing <NUM>. A home key (home key) <NUM>, an audio component <NUM>, and a camera component <NUM> are disposed on the foldable housing <NUM>, where the audio component <NUM> may be a loudspeaker. It should be noted that a camera component may be further disposed on a face that is of the mobile phone and that is opposite to the display panel <NUM>, and a power input interface may be further disposed on a side face of the mobile phone. Details are not described herein in this embodiment of this application.

In conclusion, in the display apparatus provided in the embodiments of this application, when the flexible display cover plate receives external force, both the first cover-plate layer and the auxiliary protective layer can absorb and diffuse impact of the external force, so that the external force received by the display substrate is reduced, and damage caused by the external force to the display substrate is reduced, thereby improving a protection effect provided for the display substrate. In addition, when the flexible display cover plate is folded, the bonding layer expands to edges of the flexible display cover plate due to deformation, so that changes of the first cover-plate layer and the second cover-plate layer are reduced in a tensile modulus and a thickness during folding, and rigidness of the flexible display cover plate at a same bending radius is increased, thereby improving the protection effect provided for the display substrate.

It may be clearly understood by a person skilled in the art that, for ease of convenience and conciseness, and for a specific structure of the flexible display cover plate in the foregoing flexible display apparatus, refer to the structure of the flexible display cover plate in the foregoing embodiments. Details are not described herein again in the embodiments of this application.

The term "and/or" in this application describes only an association relationship for describing associated objects and represents that there may be three relationships. For example, A and/or B may represent the following three cases: only A exists, both A and B exist, and only B exists.

Claim 1:
A flexible display cover plate, comprising:
a first cover-plate layer (<NUM>) and at least one auxiliary protective layer (<NUM>) that is disposed on a face of the first cover-plate layer, wherein
the auxiliary protective layer (<NUM>) comprises a bonding layer (<NUM>) and a second cover-plate layer (<NUM>) that are superimposed along a direction, wherein the direction is away from the first cover-plate layer (<NUM>), wherein the bonding layer (<NUM>) is a deformable film layer, and a face that is of an outermost second cover-plate layer (<NUM>) in the at least one auxiliary protective layer (<NUM>) and that is away from the bonding layer (<NUM>) is used to attach to a display substrate;
characterized in that
the bonding layer (<NUM>) meets at least the following condition:
a modulus of the bonding layer (<NUM>) is equal to <NUM> MPa.