Patent Description:
With the development of display technology, more and more display devices are provided with a function of fingerprint identification. The display device with the function of fingerprint identification includes a display panel, a fingerprint identification module, and a fingerprint identification flexible circuit board. The fingerprint identification module is usually arranged on a non-display side of the display panel.

<CIT> discloses a display device comprising a display panel, a fingerprint identification module and a frame sealant, the fingerprint identification module being disposed on a non-display side of the display panel, the frame sealant having openings to facilitate heat transfer from the fingerprint identification module.

<CIT> and <CIT> disclose a display device comprising a display panel, a fingerprint identification module and a frame sealant, the fingerprint identification module being disposed on a non-display side of the display panel, the frame sealant being located between the display panel and the fingerprint sensor.

The invention is defined in independent claims <NUM> and <NUM>.

In order to describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present disclosure more clearly, the following briefly introduces the accompanying drawings required for describing the embodiments. Apparently, the accompanying drawings in the following description show merely some embodiments of the present disclosure, and a person of ordinary skill in the art may also derive other drawings from these accompanying drawings without creative efforts.

For clearer descriptions of the objects, technical solutions and advantages in the present disclosure, the implementation of the present disclosure is described in detail below in combination with the accompanying drawings.

As known by the inventor, a frame sealant is provided on a non-display side of a display panel, and the fingerprint identification module is fixed connected with the display panel by the frame sealant. After the frame sealant is attached to the display panel and the fingerprint identification module, the region enclosed by the frame sealant, the display panel, and the fingerprint identification module becomes a closed region. An air pressure in the enclosed region becomes larger under high temperature and high humidity conditions, which generates a greater force on the display panel, resulting in an indentation on the screen of the display panel and even damage to the display panel.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a display device and, as shown in <FIG>, the display device <NUM> includes a display panel <NUM>, a fingerprint identification module <NUM>, a fingerprint identification flexible circuit board <NUM>, and a frame sealant <NUM>. <FIG> is a cross-sectional view of the display device at A11 to A12 in <FIG>.

The fingerprint identification module <NUM> is disposed on a non-display side F of the display panel <NUM>, the fingerprint identification module <NUM> includes a fingerprint identification region Z1 and a peripheral region Z2 surrounding the fingerprint identification region, and the peripheral region Z2 is arranged with the first connection terminal.

The fingerprint identification flexible circuit board <NUM> is provided with a second connection terminal, and the second connection terminal is electrically connected with the first connection terminal. The first connection terminal and the second connection terminal are shown as line segments of which endpoints are dots in <FIG>.

The frame sealant <NUM> is at least partially disposed between the display panel <NUM> and the peripheral region Z2 of the fingerprint identification module <NUM>, and is configured to bond the fingerprint identification module <NUM> and the display panel <NUM>.

At least one opening K is provided on a side of the orthographic projection of the frame sealant <NUM> on the display panel 11proximal to the fingerprint identification flexible circuit board <NUM>, that is, a side of the frame sealant <NUM> proximal to the fingerprint identification flexible circuit board is provided with at least one opening K. Moreover, the at least one opening K is at least partially overlapped with an orthographic projection of the fingerprint identification flexible circuit board <NUM> on the display panel <NUM>.

Exemplarily, it is assumed, as shown in <FIG>, that the orthographic projection of the frame sealant <NUM> on the display panel <NUM> has an opening K on the side proximal to the fingerprint identification flexible circuit board <NUM>. At this moment, positional relationship between the opening K and the fingerprint identification flexible circuit board <NUM> may satisfy any of the followings. As shown in <FIG>, the fingerprint identification flexible circuit board <NUM> includes a second connection terminal and a circuit board <NUM>, wherein the opening is partially overlapped with an orthographic projection of the second connection terminal on the display panel <NUM>, and the edge of the circuit board <NUM> contacts with a side of the frame sealant <NUM> proximal to the circuit board <NUM>. Alternatively, as shown in <FIG>, the fingerprint identification flexible circuit board <NUM> includes a second connection terminal and a circuit board <NUM>, wherein the opening is overlapped with an orthographic projection of the circuit board <NUM> on the display panel <NUM>, and the opening is also overlapped with the orthographic projection of the second connection terminal on the display panel <NUM>. Alternatively, as shown in <FIG>, the fingerprint identification flexible circuit board <NUM> includes a second connection terminal and a circuit board <NUM>, wherein the opening is partially overlapped with the orthographic projection of the second connection terminal on the display panel <NUM>, and the edge of the circuit board <NUM> does not contact with the side of the frame sealant <NUM> proximal to the circuit board <NUM>.

In summary, in the display device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, as the frame sealant is provided with the opening, the region enclosed by the frame sealant, the display panel, and the fingerprint identification module is no longer a closed region after the frame sealant is attached respectively to the display panel and the fingerprint identification module, such that air pressure in the region enclosed by the frame sealant, the display panel, and the fingerprint identification module can be kept as consistent as possible with outer air pressure, and thus the force generated on the display panel due to pressure difference of the above two air pressure is reduced, and the probability for occurrence of indentation and damage on the display panel is reduced.

The display device may be any product or component with a display function, such as an electronic paper, a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a television, a display, a notebook computer, a digital photo frame or a navigator. Exemplarily, the display device may be an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display device.

Optionally, as shown in <FIG>, a span L of a region where the frame sealant is provided with the opening K in a reference direction X may be less than or equal to a width of the fingerprint identification flexible circuit board <NUM> in the reference direction X. The reference direction X intersects an opening direction Y of the opening. <FIG> is a schematic diagram of the reference direction X being perpendicular to the opening direction Y of the opening.

In addition, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, an opening arrangement may also satisfy the condition that the orthographic projection of the circuit board <NUM> of the fingerprint identification flexible circuit board <NUM> on the display panel <NUM> at least partially covers the at least one opening. At this moment, on the one hand, a support force to the fingerprint identification flexible circuit board <NUM> is provided by using the frame sealant <NUM> on each side of the opening; on the other hand, cut surfaces of the frame sealant <NUM> formed at the opening can be shielded by the fingerprint identification flexible circuit board <NUM>, such that probability of pollution on the cut surface due to dust or the like is reduced.

In addition, with reference to <FIG>, the orthographic projection of the fingerprint identification flexible circuit board <NUM> on the fingerprint identification module <NUM> partially covers the fingerprint identification module <NUM>. At this moment, with reference to <FIG> for the connection between the first connection terminal and the second connection terminal, <FIG> is a cross-sectional view of the connection between the first connection terminal and the second connection terminal at B11 to B12 in <FIG>. As shown in <FIG>, the fingerprint identification module <NUM> may include a first insulating layer <NUM>, a fingerprint identification circuit layer <NUM>, and a second insulating layer <NUM> that are stacked in sequence. The second insulating layer <NUM> covers a partial surface of the fingerprint identification circuit layer <NUM>, and a portion of the fingerprint identification circuit layer <NUM>, which is not covered by the second insulating layer <NUM>, is used as the first connection terminal 122a. The fingerprint identification flexible circuit board <NUM> may include a third insulating layer <NUM>, a fingerprint identification circuit layer <NUM>, and a fourth insulating layer <NUM> that are stacked in sequence. The fourth insulating layer <NUM> covers a partial surface of the fingerprint identification circuit layer <NUM>. A portion of the fingerprint identification circuit layer <NUM>, which is not covered by the fourth insulating layer <NUM>, is used as the second connection terminal 132a. The second connection terminal 132a is arranged opposite to the first connection terminal 122a, and a conductive adhesive <NUM> is arranged between the second connection terminal 132a and the first connection terminal 122a, so that the second connection terminal 132a is electrically connected with the first connection terminal 122a by the conductive adhesive <NUM>.

Further, the number of openings on the frame sealant <NUM> may be provided according to practical requirements. For example, as shown in <FIG>, the frame sealant <NUM> may be provided with an opening. For example, as shown in <FIG>, the frame sealant <NUM> may be provided with a plurality of openings K. At this moment, the air inside the region enclosed by the frame sealant <NUM>, the display panel <NUM>, and the fingerprint identification module <NUM> may be circulated with the air outside of the region by the openings at different positions, which may further reduce the pressure difference between the inside and outside of the region.

Optionally, as shown in <FIG>, when the frame sealant <NUM> is provided with the plurality of openings K, a distance between each adjacent two openings K in the plurality of openings K may be equal. When the distance between each adjacent two openings is equal, the uniformity of the support force provided by the frame sealant <NUM> to the fingerprint identification flexible circuit board <NUM> may be improved, such that the frame sealer <NUM> around the plurality of openings may share the pressure generated by the fingerprint identification flexible circuit board <NUM> more evenly, prevent deformation of the frame sealer <NUM> caused by the uneven pressure on the frame sealer <NUM>, and ensure the effective attaching between the display panel <NUM> and the fingerprint identification module <NUM>.

Moreover, opening surfaces of the plurality of openings may also be equal in size. At this moment, the sizes of the plurality of openings are relatively uniform. On the one hand, it may ensure uniformity of the air pressure at different openings; on the other hand, the frame sealant <NUM> around the plurality of openings may evenly share the pressure generated by the fingerprint identification flexible circuit board <NUM>, which prevents deformation of the frame sealant <NUM> caused by the uneven pressure on the frame sealant <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the display device <NUM> further includes an edge sealant layer <NUM>. The edge sealant layer <NUM> is at least used for attaching the fingerprint identification module <NUM> and the frame sealant <NUM> to enhance the attaching capability between the fingerprint identification module <NUM> and the frame sealant <NUM>.

In a first arrangement of the edge sealant layer <NUM>, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, an orthographic projection of an outer frame of the frame sealant <NUM> on the display panel <NUM> surrounds an orthographic projection of the edge sealant layer <NUM> on the display panel <NUM>. At this moment, the fingerprint identification module <NUM> and the frame sealant <NUM> are both attached to the edge sealant layer <NUM>. <FIG> is a cross-sectional view of the display device at C11 to C12 in <FIG>.

As known by the inventor, characteristics such as Young's modulus and curing shrinkage of the display panel <NUM>, the frame sealant <NUM>, and the edge sealant layer <NUM> are quite different. If any two of the display panel <NUM>, the frame sealant <NUM>, and the edge sealant layer <NUM> are in contact with each other, it is easy to cause indentation on the display panel <NUM>. In the display device <NUM> according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, the edge sealant layer <NUM> is attached respectively to the fingerprint identification module <NUM> and the frame sealant <NUM>, such that the contact between the edge sealant layer <NUM> and the display panel <NUM> can be avoided, which reduces the force generated by the edge sealant layer <NUM> on the display panel <NUM> and further reduces indentation created by the force; and at the same time, reduces interference of the force onto touch signal and improves the accuracy of positioning the fingerprint.

Optionally, in order to realize the first arrangement of the edge sealant layer, as shown in <FIG>, a distance between an inner frame <NUM> and an outer frame <NUM> of the frame sealant <NUM> may be widened based on the frame sealant <NUM> in the related art, without changing the size of the edge sealant layer. For example, the size of the outer frame of the frame sealant <NUM> may be increased to keep the size of the inner frame equal to or slightly larger than the size of the fingerprint identification region Z1 of the fingerprint identification module <NUM>. At this moment, a distance between the inner frame and the outer frame of the frame sealant <NUM>, at any position of the frame sealant <NUM>, may range approximately from <NUM> to <NUM>. Here, "approximately" may be understood as that the distance between the inner frame and the outer frame of frame sealant <NUM> may fluctuate within an error range of <NUM>% of the distance ranging from <NUM> to <NUM>.

In a second arrangement of the edge sealant layer <NUM>, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the orthographic projection of the outer frame of the edge sealant layer <NUM> on the display panel <NUM> may surround the orthographic projection of the frame sealant <NUM> on the display panel <NUM>. At this moment, the fingerprint identification module <NUM>, the frame sealant <NUM>, and the display panel <NUM> are all attached to the edge sealant layer <NUM>. <FIG> is a cross-sectional view of the display device at D11 to D12 in <FIG>, and in order to facilitate viewing the frame sealant <NUM> covered by the edge sealant layer <NUM>, the edge sealant layer <NUM> is shown in a translucent manner in <FIG>.

In the second arrangement, the size of the frame sealant <NUM> may satisfy the following: the distance between the inner frame and the outer frame of the frame sealant <NUM>, at any position of the frame sealant <NUM>, ranges approximately from1. <NUM> to <NUM>.

Optionally, since an region enclosed by the frame sealant <NUM> and the at least one opening is in a polygonal shape, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the arrangement position of the edge sealant may satisfy the following: the frame sealant <NUM>, except for a side thereof provided with the opening, is attached to the fingerprint identification module <NUM> by the edge sealant layer <NUM>. For example, the region enclosed by the frame sealant <NUM> and the at least one opening may be in a rectangular shape, and the rectangular frame sealant <NUM> is provided with an opening on a side proximal to the fingerprint identification flexible circuit board <NUM>. At this moment, other three sides of the rectangular frame sealant <NUM> may be attached to the fingerprint identification module <NUM> by the edge sealant layer <NUM>.

Alternatively, all the positions where the frame sealant <NUM> is not provided with the opening may be attached to the fingerprint identification module by the edge sealant layer <NUM>, which is not specifically limited in the embodiments of the present disclosure.

Moreover, when the edge sealant layer <NUM> is attached to the fingerprint identification module, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the edge sealant layer <NUM> may be attached to a side of the fingerprint identification module. Alternatively, as shown in <FIG>, the edge sealant layer <NUM> may also be attached to a side of the fingerprint identification module <NUM> and a side of the peripheral region of the fingerprint identification module <NUM> distal from the display panel <NUM>. <FIG> is a cross-sectional view of the display device at C11 to C12 in <FIG>, and <FIG> is a cross-sectional view of the display device at D11 to D12 in <FIG>.

Further, in order to ensure that the edge sealant may effectively attach the frame sealant <NUM> and the fingerprint identification module <NUM>, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the orthographic projection of the outer frame of the frame sealant <NUM> on the display panel <NUM> may surround the orthographic projection of the finger identification module on the display panel <NUM>.

Optionally, as shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, the display device <NUM> may further include a heat dissipation layer <NUM>, wherein the heat dissipation layer <NUM> is used for heat dissipation. The heat dissipation layer <NUM> may be arranged around the outside of the region where the fingerprint identification flexible circuit board <NUM> and the fingerprint identification module <NUM> are arranged. Exemplarily, the heat dissipation layer <NUM> may be super clean foam (SCF).

Moreover, as shown in <FIG>, the display device <NUM> may further include at least a reinforcement <NUM>. The reinforcement <NUM> may be a steel sheet. The reinforcement <NUM> is arranged on the side of the fingerprint identification flexible circuit board <NUM> distal from the fingerprint identification module <NUM>, and is configured to protect the fingerprint identification flexible circuit, and the reinforcement <NUM> may also play a certain role in supporting the fingerprint identification flexible circuit. To facilitate viewing, the heat dissipation layer <NUM> is not shown in <FIG> is a schematic diagram of the display device <NUM> including the reinforcement <NUM>; and <FIG> is a cross-sectional view of the display device at B11 to B12 in <FIG>.

It should be noted that, in the embodiments of the present disclosure, the arrangement of a through hole in the frame sealant <NUM> may also be adopted, such that the region enclosed by the frame sealant <NUM>, the display panel <NUM>, and the fingerprint identification module <NUM> is not a closed region.

In summary, in the display device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, as the frame sealant is provided with an opening, the region enclosed by the frame sealant, the display panel, and the fingerprint identification module is no longer a closed region after the frame sealant is attached respectively to the display panel and the fingerprint identification module, such that air pressure in the region enclosed by the frame sealant, the display panel, and the fingerprint identification module can be kept as consistent as possible with outer air pressure, and thus the force generated on the display panel due to pressure difference of the above two air pressure is reduced, and the probability for occurrence of indentation and damage on the display panel is reduced.

Embodiments of the present disclosure also provide an assembly method of a display device, as shown in <FIG>, the method may include the following steps.

In step <NUM>, a side of frame sealant is attached to a non-display side of a display panel.

Optionally, as shown in <FIG>, two opposite sides of the colloid <NUM> of the frame sealant <NUM> may be attached respectively with a heavy release film <NUM> and a light release film <NUM> before the frame sealant is not used. Therefore, it is not difficult to understand that in the above embodiments of the display device, the frame sealant refers to the colloid of the frame sealant. Before the side of the frame sealant is attached to the non-display side of the display panel, one of the heavy release film and the light release film may be removed firstly, and then the exposed colloid is attached to the non-display side of the display panel. The heavy release film and the light release film may prevent the colloid from being polluted due to exposure, and ensure the adhesion of the colloid.

In step <NUM>, a peripheral region of a fingerprint identification module is attached to the opposite side of the frame sealant.

The fingerprint identification module is provided with a fingerprint identification region and the peripheral region surrounding the fingerprint identification region.

Before the peripheral region of the fingerprint identification module is attached to the opposite side of the frame sealant, the other of the heavy release film and the light release film may be removed firstly, and then the peripheral region of the fingerprint identification module is attached to the exposed colloid.

In step <NUM>, a second connection terminal of a fingerprint identification flexible circuit board and a first connection terminal in the peripheral region are bonded, wherein at least one opening is provided on a side of an orthographic projection of the frame sealant on the display panel proximal to the fingerprint identification flexible circuit board, and the at least one opening being at least partially overlapped with an orthographic projection of the fingerprint identification flexible circuit board on the display panel.

It should be noted that the second connection terminal and the first connection terminal may also be bonded firstly, and then the peripheral region of the fingerprint identification module is attached to the opposite side of the frame sealant.

Further, as shown in <FIG>, after bonding the second connection terminal of the fingerprint identification flexible circuit board and the first connection terminal in the peripheral region, the method further includes:.

In step <NUM>, an edge sealant layer is coated, so that a side of the fingerprint identification module and the frame sealant are both attached to the edge sealant layer, or the side of the fingerprint identification module, the frame sealant, and the display panel are all attached to the edge sealant layer.

The coating method of the edge sealant layer can ensure that the coated edge sealant layer satisfies the limitation on the edge sealant layer in the aforementioned embodiments of the display device, which is not repeated in detail herein.

In summary, in the assembly method of the display device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, as the frame sealant is provided with an opening, the region enclosed by the frame sealant, the display panel, and the fingerprint identification module is no longer a closed region after the frame sealant is attached respectively to the display panel and the fingerprint identification module, such that air pressure in the region enclosed by the frame sealant, the display panel, and the fingerprint identification module can be kept as consistent as possible with outer air pressure, and thus the force generated on the display panel due to pressure difference of the above two air pressure is reduced, and the probability for occurrence of indentation and damage on the display panel is reduced.

A person of ordinary skill in the art can understand that all or part of the steps described in the above embodiments can be completed through hardware, or through a program which instructs relevant hardware, wherein the program can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium, such as a read-only memory, a disk, a CD, or the like.

Claim 1:
A display device, comprising a display panel (<NUM>), a fingerprint identification module (<NUM>), a fingerprint identification flexible circuit board (<NUM>), and a frame sealant (<NUM>), wherein
the fingerprint identification module (<NUM>) is disposed on a non-display side (F) of the display panel (<NUM>), the fingerprint identification module (<NUM>) comprises a fingerprint identification region (Z1) and a peripheral region (Z2) surrounding the fingerprint identification region (Z1), and the peripheral region (Z2) is arranged with a first connection terminal (122a);
the fingerprint identification flexible circuit board (<NUM>) is provided with a second connection terminal (132a), and the second connection terminal (132a) is electrically connected with the first connection terminal (122a); and
the frame sealant (<NUM>) is at least partially disposed between the display panel (<NUM>) and the peripheral region (Z2) of the fingerprint identification module (<NUM>), and is configured to bond the fingerprint identification module (<NUM>) and the display panel (<NUM>);
characterized in that at least one opening (K) is provided on a side of an orthographic projection of the frame sealant (<NUM>) on the display panel (<NUM>) proximal to the fingerprint identification flexible circuit board (<NUM>), the at least one opening (K) being at least partially overlapped with an orthographic projection of the fingerprint identification flexible circuit board (<NUM>) on the display panel (<NUM>), and a region enclosed by the frame sealant (<NUM>), the display panel (<NUM>) and the fingerprint identification module (<NUM>) communicates with the at least one opening (K);
wherein the orthographic projection of the fingerprint identification flexible circuit board (<NUM>) on the display panel (<NUM>) covers the at least one opening (K).