Patent Description:
Foldable electronic devices, such as some smartphones, require a foldable display stack. Prior art display stacks comprise a relatively large number of layers, some of which are relatively stiff, such as e.g. metal sheets. The large number of layers makes it difficult to achieve a display stack which is free from permanent deformation and delamination.

Hence, current foldable display stacks are both relatively thick, heavy, and stiff, making them unsuitable for use in dynamically foldable displays. Furthermore, such display stacks can only be folded in one direction, i.e. the display stack can have only an in-fold design or an out-fold design, not both. Additionally, current in-fold designs may have a permanent deformation of ><NUM> %, and current out-fold designs may have a permanent deformation of ><NUM> %, the maximum stress in the material layers being >> <NUM> MPa.

<CIT> discloses a foldable display of a computing device includes a back stiffening layer, a transparent frontplate layer, a transparent cover window layer, and an OLED display layer disposed between the back stiffening layer and the transparent frontplate layer.

<CIT> discusses a bendable display device, lighting device, or electronic device.

<CIT> discusses a plastic window and an organic light-emitting display apparatus, the plastic window including a first layer; a second layer stacked on the first layer; and coating layers on a bottom surface of the first layer and on a top surface of the second layer, respectively, the top surface of the second layer facing a direction opposite to that of the bottom surface of the first layer, wherein the first layer and the second layer each include polyethylene terephthalate, and the first layer has the same thickness as the second layer.

It is an object to provide an improved foldable display stack. Further implementation forms are apparent from the dependent claims, the description, and the figures.

According to a first aspect, there is provided a foldable display stack for an electronic device according to appended claim <NUM>.

Such a solution facilitates a display stack which is thinner and more flexible than prior art, which is necessary in order to achieve a symmetrically foldable display stack. Furthermore, the present solution has better reliability than prior art solutions, substantially eliminating delamination of, and permanent deformation, to the display stack.

In a possible implementation form of the first aspect, at least one of the first cover layer and the second cover layer comprises optical clear materials. Optical clear materials can be used in layers to make it possible to see display image through cover layer and adhesive layer.

In a possible implementation form of the first aspect, at least one layer of the displaying structure is an OLED panel layer or an AMOLED panel layer, facilitating choosing a suitable display structure considering optical and mechanical restrictions.

In a further possible implementation form of the first aspect, the first cover layer and the second cover layer have an elasticity ε≥ <NUM> % of a width of the first cover layer and the second cover layer, the width extending in a direction perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction, facilitating a significant reduction in the maximum stress and permanent deformation of the display stack.

In an example, any deformation occurring as the display stack is folded from the unfolded position to one of the first folded position or the second folded position, is reversed as the display stack is unfolded from the first folded position or the second folded position to the unfolded position, allowing bump free folding, meaning no bump occurs in the middle of the display stack even after having been folded and unfolded many times.

In a further possible implementation form of the first aspect, the first cover layer and the second cover layer comprises of polymer material, preferably polyimide.

In a further possible implementation form of the first aspect, the displaying structure further comprises a touch sensor.

In a further possible implementation form of the first aspect, the displaying structure further comprises a touch sensor layer and a third adhesive layer, the third adhesive layer attaching the touch sensor layer to the panel layer.

In a further possible implementation form of the first aspect, the third adhesive layer is a pressure sensitive adhesive.

In a further possible implementation form of the first aspect, the covering structure further comprises a hard coating attached to the first cover layer, providing additional protection to the outer surface of the cover layer.

In a further possible implementation form of the first aspect, the polarizing layer is arranged between the first cover layer and the hard coating, providing additional protection to the polarizing layer.

In a further possible implementation form of the first aspect, the polarizing layer is coated directly onto the first cover layer, eliminating the need for additional adhesive or support layers.

In a further possible implementation form of the first aspect, the first cover layer comprises a plurality of sub-layers being attached to each other by a fourth adhesive layer, the polarizing layer being coated directly onto one of the sub-layers, facilitating flexibility in the design of the covering structure.

In a further possible implementation form of the first aspect, at least one of the first, second, third, and fourth adhesive layers comprise optically clear adhesive.

In a further possible implementation form of the first aspect, at least one of the first, second, third, and fourth adhesive layers comprise an optically clear adhesive with anti-shock properties, providing a cushioning effect to the display stack.

In a further possible implementation form of the first aspect, the covering structure, the first adhesive layer, and at least the touch sensor layer of the displaying structure are transparent.

In a further possible implementation form of the first aspect, the first cover layer and the second cover layer have the same material properties, such as the same elasticity.

In a further possible implementation form of the first aspect, the display stack has is symmetrically stacked up in relation to the neutral plane of the displaying structure. For example, the distance between the first cover layer and the neutral plane is the same as the distance between the second cover layer and the neutral plane.

In a further possible implementation form of the first aspect, the display stack has is symmetrically stacked up in relation to the displaying structure. For example, the distance between the first cover layer and the displaying structure is the same as the distance between the second cover layer and the displaying structure.

For example, materials properties at the one end of the displaying structure, e.g. in a first direction D1 perpendicular to the neutral plane are similar to the other end of the displaying structure, e.g. in a second direction D2 perpendicular to the neutral plane. The direction of D1 is opposite to the direction of D2.

This provides the advantage of a "bumpfree" folding, which means no bump in the middle when folded or after folding many times, a symmetrical stack up in relation to the displaying structure. As the protective cover layer elasticity shall be the similar to the elasticity of the bottom cover layer, both layers shall have equal capability to fold in and out.

In a further possible implementation form of the first aspect, the first cover layer is composed of a first cover material, the second cover layer is composed of a second cover material, wherein the first cover material and the second cover material are similar, in some cases they can be the same.

In a further possible implementation form of the first aspect, the first adhesive layer is composed of a first adhesive material, the second adhesive layer is composed of a second adhesive material, wherein the first adhesive material and the second adhesive material are the same.

In a further possible implementation form of the first aspect, at least one of the first adhesive layer and the second adhesive layer is attached to an anti-shock layer.

In a further possible implementation form of the first aspect, the first adhesive layer is attached to a first anti-shock layer, the second adhesive layer is attached to a second anti-shock layer, wherein the material properties, e.g. elasticity, of the first adhesive layer and the attached first anti-shock layer are the same as the material properties, e.g. elasticity, of the second adhesive layer and the attached second anti-shock layer.

According to a second aspect, there is provided an electronic device comprising a foldable display stack according to appended claim <NUM>.

This and other aspects will be apparent from and the embodiments described below.

The present disclosure relates to an electronic device comprising a display stack <NUM>. A peripheral layer of the foldable display stack <NUM>, such as the hard coating <NUM> or the first cover layer <NUM>, described in more detail below, makes up a peripheral surface of the electronic device. The peripheral surface may, e.g., be a part of the front surface of the electronic device, the entire front surface of the electronic device, or the front surface and one or more side surfaces of the electronic device.

Different embodiments of the display stack <NUM> are shown in <FIG>. The display stack <NUM> comprises a covering structure <NUM>, comprising a first cover layer <NUM> and a polarizing layer <NUM>, and a second cover layer <NUM>. The display stack <NUM> further comprises a displaying structure <NUM> arranged between the covering structure <NUM> and the second cover layer <NUM>. All layers of the display stack <NUM> extend in parallel with each other, and in parallel with a main plane of the display stack <NUM>. Furthermore, all layers, except for the two peripheral layers at either side of the display stack <NUM>, are arranged in direct abutment with two adjacent layers, since there are no air gaps within the display stack <NUM>.

In one embodiment, the polarizing layer <NUM> comprises a circular polarizer comprising a linear polarizer and a quarter wave plate. The polarizing layer <NUM> may comprise only one material, preferably a liquid crystal polymer material. The polarizing layer <NUM> may furthermore comprise of two sub-layers coated onto each other. For example, for a circular polarizer comprising a linear polarizer sub-layer and a quarter wave sub-layer, the two sub-layers are coated as separate layers, the two sub-layers comprising of the same base material but having different polymer molecule orientation.

Regardless of the location of the polarizing layer <NUM>, the polarizing layer <NUM> may be coated directly onto one adjacent layer, and attached to another adjacent layer by means of an adhesive layer. As shown in <FIG>, the polarizing layer <NUM> may be coated directly onto the first cover layer <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the polarizing layer <NUM> may be coated directly onto a sub-layer 3a, 3b of the first cover layer <NUM>. The polarizing layer <NUM> may furthermore be attached to both adjacent layers by means of adhesive layers.

The display stack <NUM> further comprises a first adhesive layer 7a attaching the covering structure <NUM> to the displaying structure <NUM>, and a second adhesive layer 7b attaching the displaying structure <NUM> to the second cover layer <NUM>. The polarizing layer <NUM> may be arranged between the first cover layer <NUM> and the first adhesive layer 7a, as shown in <FIG>.

The displaying structure <NUM> comprises a plurality of layers. At least one layer of the displaying structure <NUM> may be an OLED panel layer or an AMOLED panel layer <NUM>. One layer may be a base film. As opposed to prior art, there is no need for neither support layers such as metal sheets nor separate cushioning layers.

The displaying structure <NUM> may further comprise a touch sensor, located within the panel layer <NUM> (not shown). The displaying structure <NUM> may furthermore comprise a touch sensor layer <NUM> and a third adhesive layer 7c, the third adhesive layer 7c attaching the touch sensor layer <NUM> to the panel layer <NUM>. The third adhesive layer 7c may be a pressure sensitive adhesive. In one embodiment (not shown), the polarizer layer <NUM> may be coated directly onto the touch sensor layer <NUM>, whereafter the polarizer layer <NUM> is attached to the first cover layer <NUM> or sub-layer 3b by means of the first adhesive layer 7a.

In one embodiment, at least the covering structure <NUM>, the first adhesive layer 7a, and at least the touch sensor layer <NUM> of the displaying structure <NUM> are transparent.

As shown in <FIG>, the covering structure <NUM> may furthermore comprise a hard coating <NUM> attached to the first cover layer <NUM> or a sub-layer 3a.

<FIG> shows one integral first cover layer <NUM>. For such embodiments, the polarizing layer <NUM> is arranged between the first cover layer <NUM> and the first adhesive layer 7a, or, in an embodiment not forming part of the claimed invention, between the first cover layer <NUM> and the hard coating <NUM> (not shown). The polarizing layer <NUM> may be coated directly onto the first cover layer <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the first cover layer <NUM> may comprise of a plurality of sub-layers 3a, 3b, e.g. two sub-layers, each pair of sub-layers 3a, 3b being attached to each other by means of a fourth adhesive layer 7d. For such embodiments, the polarizing layer <NUM> may be coated directly onto one of the sub-layers 3a, 3b. In embodiments comprising at least two cover layers 3a, 3b, the polarizing layer <NUM> is arranged between the cover layer 3b and the first adhesive layer 7a, as shown in <FIG>. Furthermore, in an embodiment not forming part of the claimed invention, the polarizing layer <NUM> may be arranged between the cover layer 3a and the hard coating <NUM> (not shown). As shown in <FIG>, the displaying structure <NUM> comprises the neutral plane N of the foldable display stack <NUM>. The neutral plane of the foldable display stack <NUM> is the plane in which, regardless of folding, the material is not under stress, by neither compression nor tension.

The first cover layer <NUM> is arranged at a first distance from the neutral plane N, in a first direction D1 perpendicular to the neutral plane N. The second cover layer <NUM> is arranged at a second distance from the neutral plane N, in a second direction D2 opposite to the first direction D1. The first distance and the second distance are equal, which allows the display stack <NUM> to fold symmetrically, by an equal amount in both directions. Hence, the display stack <NUM> may fold, from the unfolded position shown in <FIG>, in the first direction D1 to a first folded position. In the first folded position, the first cover layer <NUM> is subject to compression forces and the second cover layer <NUM> is subject to tension forces. The display stack <NUM> may also fold, from the unfolded position shown in <FIG>, in the second direction D2 to a second folded position. In the second folded position, the first cover layer <NUM> is subject to tension forces and the second cover layer <NUM> is subject to compression forces.

In one embodiment, the first cover layer <NUM> and the second cover layer <NUM> comprise of polymer material, preferably polyimide. The first cover layer <NUM> and the second cover layer <NUM> may comprise of the same material or different materials having similar properties.

The same is true for the adhesive layers 7a to 7d. Two or more of the adhesive layers 7a to 7d may comprise of the same material or different materials having similar properties.

At least one of the first, second, third, and fourth adhesive layers 7a, 7b, 7c, 7d may comprise optically clear adhesive. Preferably, at least the first adhesive layer 7a comprises optically clear adhesive. Even more preferably, the first adhesive layer 7a and the second adhesive layer 7b both comprise the same optically clear adhesive. Furthermore, at least one of the first, second, third, and fourth adhesive layers 7a, 7b, 7c, 7d may comprise an optically clear adhesive with anti-shock properties. Preferably, at least the first adhesive layer 7a comprises an optically clear adhesive with anti-shock properties. In one embodiment, the third adhesive layer 7c is an optically clear, pressure sensitive adhesive.

In one embodiment, the first cover layer <NUM> and the second cover layer <NUM> have an elasticity ε≥ <NUM> % of the width W of the first cover layer <NUM> and the second cover layer <NUM>. The width W extends in a direction perpendicular to the first direction D1 and the second direction D2, i.e. between the two long edges of the display stack <NUM> and the electronic device. The display stack <NUM> is folded along a line which extends parallel with the neutral plane and perpendicular to the width W.

The combined properties of the layers of the foldable display stack <NUM>, in particular the adhesive layers and the cover layers, are preferably the same for the top half of the display stack <NUM>, i.e., the half which is located above the neutral plane N and includes the first cover layer <NUM>, as for the bottom half of the display stack <NUM>, i.e. the half which is located below the neutral plane N and includes the second cover layer <NUM>. Hence, the first adhesive layer 7a may have different properties than the second adhesive layer 7b, and similarly the first cover layer <NUM> may have different properties than the second cover layer <NUM>, as long as the material combination in each half results in the same properties.

Preferably, any deformation occurring as the display stack <NUM> is folded from the unfolded position to the first folded position or the second folded position, is at least significantly reversed as the display stack <NUM> is unfolded from the first folded position or the second folded position to the unfolded position. Permanent deformation may be decreased by <NUM> % compared to prior art, while the maximum stress in the material layers can be decreased by <NUM> %.

The various aspects and implementations have been described in conjunction with various embodiments herein. However, other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed subject-matter, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measured cannot be used to advantage.

Claim 1:
A foldable display stack (<NUM>) for an electronic device comprising
a covering structure (<NUM>) comprising a first cover layer (<NUM>) and a polarizing layer (<NUM>),
a second cover layer (<NUM>),
a displaying structure (<NUM>) arranged between said covering structure (<NUM>) and said second cover layer (<NUM>),
a first adhesive layer (7a) attaching said covering structure (<NUM>) to said displaying structure (<NUM>),
a second adhesive layer (7b) attaching said displaying structure (<NUM>) to said second cover layer (<NUM>),
said displaying structure (<NUM>) comprising a plurality of layers, said displaying structure (<NUM>) comprising the neutral plane (N) of said foldable display stack (<NUM>),
said first cover layer (<NUM>) being arranged at a first distance from said neutral plane (N), in a first direction (D1) perpendicular to said neutral plane (N),
said second cover layer (<NUM>) being arranged at a second distance from said neutral plane (N), in a second direction (D2) opposite to said first direction (D1),
said first distance and said second distance being equal such that said display stack (<NUM>) is arranged to be foldable by an equal amount from an unfolded position, in said first direction (D1) to a first folded position and in said second direction (D2) to a second folded position,
characterized in that said polarizing layer (<NUM>) is arranged between said first cover layer (<NUM>) and said first adhesive layer (7a).