Patent Description:
A foldable mobile phone with a flexible screen is an important development trend of modern mobile phones. The flexible screen usually includes planar regions and a bending region connecting two adjacent planar regions. Corresponding to a structure of the foldable flexible screen, a supporting structure of the foldable mobile phone with a flexible screen includes planar supporting portions opposite to the planar regions and a bending supporting portion opposite to the bending region.

In a conventional technology, the flexible screen is bonded and fastened to the supporting structure. The bending supporting portion includes an intermediate skeleton and a flexible supporting bar injection-molded with the intermediate skeleton, and the flexible screen is bonded and fastened to the flexible supporting bar. In a process of using the foldable mobile phone with a flexible screen, during folding and unfolding operations, the bending supporting portion and the bending region of the flexible screen are simultaneously bent or unfolded, and the bending supporting portion and the flexible screen each have a specified thickness. In a process of performing unfolding and bending operations for a plurality of times, the flexible screen needs to stretch and contract. Consequently, degumming is likely caused between the flexible screen and the bending supporting portion, resulting in poor products. <CIT> discloses a foldable display device having a minimum bending radius when the screen is folded. <CIT> discloses a fold mechanism and terminal device that can realize screen bending. <CIT> discloses a foldable display device.

This application provides a supporting structure of a foldable display apparatus and a foldable display apparatus, to improve strength of connection between a flexible screen and a bending supporting portion, and improve product quality of the foldable display apparatus. The invention is defined by the independent claim. Advantageous examples are set out in the dependent claims.

According to a first aspect, this application provides a supporting structure of a foldable display apparatus, where the supporting structure of the foldable display apparatus is configured to support a flexible screen of the foldable display apparatus. The flexible screen includes two types of regions: planar regions and a bending region. Specifically, the flexible screen includes at least two planar regions and a bending region connected between the two planar regions. Correspondingly, to reliably support the flexible screen, the supporting structure of the foldable display apparatus includes two types of parts: planar supporting portions and a bending supporting portion. The planar supporting portions are opposite to the planar regions and support the planar regions of the flexible screen, and the bending supporting portion is opposite to the bending region and supports the bending region of the flexible screen. The bending supporting portion includes two parts: a bending skeleton and a flexible supporting bar connected to the bending skeleton, and the flexible supporting bar is in direct contact with the flexible screen. When the flexible screen is unfolded, the flexible supporting bar is configured to support the bending region of the flexible screen, and when the flexible screen is folded, the flexible supporting bar is configured to drive the flexible screen to be folded. In this technical solution, the flexible supporting bar includes at least two parts: a supporting portion and a plurality of connecting portions that are distributed at intervals and fastened to the supporting portion. The supporting portion is connected to the flexible screen. The plurality of connecting portions are located on a side of the supporting portion away from the flexible screen, and the plurality of connecting portions are distributed at intervals. In this case, an end of the connecting portion away from the supporting portion is connected to the bending skeleton. Therefore, there is a specified distance from a joint between the flexible supporting bar and the bending skeleton to the supporting portion. In addition, there is also a specified distance between two adjacent joints. In the foldable display apparatus, the flexible screen is bonded and fastened to the supporting portion of the flexible supporting bar. When the foldable display apparatus is folded, the supporting portion and the flexible screen are bent together, and the supporting portion is connected to the bending skeleton by using the plurality of connecting portions distributed at intervals. Therefore, during bending, relative displacement is generated between the supporting portion and the bending skeleton, so that no relative displacement is likely generated between the supporting portion and the flexible screen. This improves strength of connection between the supporting portion and the flexible screen, reduces a risk of degumming between the flexible screen and the flexible supporting bar, and improves product quality of the foldable display apparatus.

In an optional technical solution, the connecting portions may be clamping slot structures, and the bending skeleton includes clamping heads clamped with the clamping slot structures. When the supporting structure of the foldable display apparatus is mounted, the clamping head extends into the clamping slot structure for clamping, to implement connection between the flexible supporting bar and the bending skeleton. When the foldable display apparatus is folded, the supporting portion and the flexible screen are bent together, and displacement is generated between the clamping slot of the supporting portion and the bending skeleton, so that no relative displacement is likely generated between the supporting portion and the flexible screen. This improves strength of connection between the supporting portion and the flexible screen, reduces a risk of degumming between the flexible screen and the flexible supporting bar, and improves product quality of the foldable display apparatus.

In an unclaimed comparative example, the connecting portions may be fixed protrusions, the plurality of fixed protrusions are located on a side of the supporting portion away from the flexible screen, and an end of each of the plurality of fixed protrusions away from the supporting portion is connected to the bending skeleton. Therefore, there is a specified distance from the joint between the flexible supporting bar and the bending skeleton to the supporting portion. In the foldable display apparatus, the flexible screen is bonded and fastened to the supporting portion of the flexible supporting bar. When the foldable display apparatus is folded, the supporting portion and the flexible screen are bent together, and displacement is generated between the fixed protrusion of the supporting portion and the bending skeleton, so that no relative displacement is likely generated between the supporting portion and the flexible screen. This improves strength of connection between the supporting portion and the flexible screen.

Specifically, there are a plurality of manners in which the fixed protrusion of the flexible supporting bar is connected to the bending skeleton. In a connection manner, the fixed protrusion of the flexible supporting bar is clamped with the bending skeleton. Specifically, the fixed protrusions have fasteners, the bending skeleton includes bayonets in one-to-one adaptation with the fasteners of the fixed protrusions, the fastener may be clamped with the bayonet, and the fastener of the fixed protrusion extends into the bayonet and is clamped with the bayonet. This solution facilitates mounting. In particular, the flexible supporting bar is flexible. Therefore, the fastener may contract and deform to pass through the bayonet, and spring back after passing through the bayonet, to be clamped with the bayonet. In this solution, when the bending supporting portion is bent, a small amount of displacement may be alternatively generated between the fastener and the bayonet, but an effect of connection between the fastener and the bayonet may not be affected. Therefore, relative displacement generated between layers in a folding region when the foldable display apparatus is folded may be further absorbed. In this way, this can improve strength of connection between the supporting portion and the flexible screen, and reduce a disk of degumming between the flexible screen and the flexible supporting bar.

A manner for connection between the fastener and the bayonet further includes different implementation solutions. For example, the bayonet may be a groove, or may be a through hole.

When the bayonet is a groove, an opening of the groove has a clamping edge. To be specific, a size of the opening of the groove is less than a size of a bottom region of the groove. After the fastener contracts to pass through the clamping edge, the fastener springs back to be accommodated inside the groove, and the fastener is clamped with the clamping edge of the opening, to complete clamping between the flexible supporting bar and the bending skeleton. In this technical solution, because the groove has a slot wall, a structure is relatively regular, and no structural interference likely occurs between the fixed protrusion and another structure. In addition, the groove may further protect the fixed protrusion, so that the fixed protrusion is not likely damaged.

When the bayonet is a through hole, after the fastener of the fixed protrusion contracts to pass through the through hole, the fastener springs back and is clamped with an edge of the through hole, to complete clamping between the flexible supporting bar and the bending skeleton. A structure of the through hole is relatively simple, and therefore a manufacturing process can be simplified.

In another manner for connection between the flexible supporting bar and the bending skeleton, an end of the fixed protrusion of the flexible supporting bar away from the supporting portion is fastened to the bending skeleton. In this solution, the bending skeleton includes mounting portions in one-to-one adaptation with the fixed protrusions, and the fixed protrusion is fastened to the mounting portion, to complete mounting and connection between the flexible supporting bar and the bending skeleton.

To improve stability of mounting between the fixed protrusion and the mounting portion, the mounting portion has a mounting hole. The fixed protrusion passes through the mounting hole of the mounting portion and is then fastened to the mounting portion. Therefore, a hole wall of the mounting hole can limit the fixed protrusion to some extent. In this way, a region in which the fixed protrusion is fixedly connected to the mounting portion does not likely fall off.

A manner for fixed connection between the fixed protrusion and the bending skeleton further includes different implementation solutions. For example, the fixed protrusion may be bonded and fastened to the mounting portion. A process in this solution is relatively simple. Alternatively, the fixed protrusion may be hot-melt in the mounting portion. In this solution, connection is relatively stable, and falling-off does not likely occur.

In a specific implementation, a shape of the foregoing connecting portion is not specifically limited. For example, the connecting portions may be bar-shaped connecting portions or dot-shaped connecting portions. The shape of the connecting portion may be selected based on an actual product requirement.

In a further implementation, when the connecting portions are bar-shaped connecting portions, the bar-shaped connecting portions extend in an extension direction of the flexible supporting bar, and the plurality of bar-shaped connecting portions are disposed in parallel. Specifically, when the foldable display apparatus is folded, a folding direction is perpendicular to the extension direction of the flexible supporting bar. Therefore, in this technical solution, the bar-shaped connecting portions do not need to be bent drastically, and a region between the bar-shaped connecting portions in parallel may be bent drastically, to facilitate a bending operation. In addition, the bar-shaped connecting portions are not likely damaged. This improves a service life.

In another implementation, when the connecting portions are dot-shaped connecting portions, the dot-shaped connecting portions are arranged in a matrix on the supporting portion. In an aspect, a relatively reliable connection relationship can be provided. In another aspect, there are bar-shaped gaps between the dot-shaped connecting portions that are arranged in a matrix, to facilitate a folding operation on the foldable display apparatus.

In an optional technical solution, the flexible screen may have one bending region, or may have two or more bending regions. Correspondingly, the supporting structure of the foldable display apparatus in this application may include one bending supporting portion, or may include two bending supporting portions. The technical solution of this application can be used provided that the foldable display apparatus includes the bending supporting portion, to improve strength of connection between the flexible screen and the bending supporting portion, and improve product quality of the foldable display apparatus.

According to a second aspect, this application further provides a foldable display apparatus, where the foldable display apparatus includes a flexible screen and the supporting structure of the foldable display apparatus in any one of the foregoing technical solutions. A bending supporting portion of the supporting structure includes a flexible supporting bar and a bending skeleton. Distal ends of connecting portions of the flexible supporting bar are fixedly connected to the bending skeleton. Therefore, there may be space for relative movement between the flexible supporting bar and the bending skeleton. When the foldable display apparatus is bent, the flexible screen may be stably connected to a supporting portion of the supporting bar, and degumming does not likely occur, so that product quality of the foldable display apparatus is relatively high.

In a specific implementation, a folding direction of the foregoing foldable display apparatus is not limited. The foldable display apparatus may be folded in a direction towards the flexible screen. To be specific, after being folded, the flexible screen is located between supporting housings of the foldable display apparatus. Alternatively, in another specific embodiment, the foldable display apparatus may be folded in a direction away from the flexible screen. To be specific, after being folded, the flexible screen is located on outer sides of supporting housings of the foldable display apparatus.

To facilitate understanding of a supporting structure of a foldable display apparatus provided in the embodiments of this application, the following first describes an application scenario of the supporting structure. The supporting structure of the foldable display apparatus is applied to a foldable mobile terminal, for example, a foldable mobile phone or a foldable ebook. When the mobile phone is folded, a flexible screen of the mobile terminal is also folded. To fold the flexible screen, the flexible screen includes two types of regions: planar regions and a bending region connecting two adjacent planar regions. The supporting structure of the foldable display apparatus includes planar supporting portions and a bending supporting portion. The planar supporting portions are opposite to the planar regions, and the bending supporting portion is opposite to the bending region. When the flexible screen is folded, the bending region of the flexible screen and the bending supporting portion that supports the bending region need to be folded together. When the flexible screen of the mobile phone is unfolded, the bending region of the flexible screen and the bending supporting portion that supports the bending region are also unfolded together. During folding and unfolding, the flexible screen and the bending supporting portion each have a specified thickness, and the bending supporting portion has an integral structure. As a result, specified relative displacement is generated between the flexible screen and the bending supporting portion in the bending region, and a risk of degumming likely occurs. Therefore, a supporting structure of the foldable display apparatus needs to be designed, to reduce a risk of degumming between the flexible screen and the bending supporting portion, and improve product quality.

<FIG> is a top view of a foldable display apparatus according to an embodiment of this application, <FIG> is a schematic cross-sectional diagram of a foldable display apparatus according to an embodiment of this application, <FIG> is a schematic diagram of a folded state of a foldable display apparatus according to an embodiment of this application, and <FIG> is a schematic diagram of an unfolded state of a foldable display apparatus according to an embodiment of this application. The supporting structure of the foldable display apparatus in the embodiments of this application is applied to the foldable display apparatus shown in the figures. A supporting structure <NUM> is configured to support a flexible screen <NUM> of the foldable display apparatus. As shown in the figures, the foldable display apparatus includes the flexible screen <NUM> and the supporting structure <NUM>. The supporting structure <NUM> includes a bonding step <NUM>. The flexible screen <NUM> has a display panel <NUM> and a cover <NUM> that are stacked together. On an edge of the flexible screen <NUM>, the cover <NUM> extends from an edge of the display panel <NUM> by a specified distance, so that the cover <NUM> can be lapped and fastened to the bonding step <NUM> of the supporting structure <NUM>, to form a bonding region <NUM> located on the edge of the flexible screen <NUM>. The flexible screen <NUM> includes at least two planar regions <NUM> (that the flexible screen <NUM> includes two planar regions <NUM> is used as an example in the figures). There is a bending region <NUM> between any two adjacent planar regions <NUM>. When the foldable display apparatus is in a folded state and an unfolded state, the planar regions <NUM> remain flattened. When the foldable display apparatus is in the folded state, the bending region <NUM> is bent. When the foldable display apparatus is in the unfolded state, the bending region <NUM> is flattened. The foldable display apparatus has a bending supporting portion <NUM> corresponding to the bending region <NUM>. There is a flexible supporting bar on a side of the bending supporting portion that is close to the flexible screen. The flexible supporting bar is made of a flexible material, for example, rubber, and has specified flexibility. When the flexible screen is bent, the flexible supporting bar may be bent together with the flexible screen.

Referring to <FIG>, <FIG> is a schematic cross-sectional structural diagram of a bending supporting portion according to an embodiment of this application. The supporting structure <NUM> in this embodiment of this application includes planar supporting portions <NUM> and a bending supporting portion <NUM>. The planar supporting portions <NUM> are opposite to the planar regions <NUM> of the flexible screen <NUM>, and are configured to support the planar regions <NUM>. The bending supporting portion <NUM> is opposite to the bending region <NUM> of the flexible screen <NUM>, and is configured to support the bending region <NUM>. The bending supporting portion <NUM> includes a bending skeleton <NUM> and a flexible supporting bar <NUM> connected to the bending skeleton <NUM>, and the flexible supporting bar <NUM> is in contact with the flexible screen <NUM> to support the bending portion of the flexible screen <NUM>. Specifically, the flexible supporting bar <NUM> includes a supporting portion <NUM> and a plurality of connecting portions <NUM> that are distributed at intervals and fastened to the supporting portion <NUM>. The supporting portion <NUM> is in contact with the flexible screen <NUM>. The connecting portions <NUM> are located on a side of the supporting portion <NUM> away from the flexible screen <NUM>, an end of the connecting portion <NUM> away from the supporting portion <NUM> is connected to the bending skeleton <NUM>, and there is a specified interval between the plurality of connecting portions <NUM>. In this embodiment, the end of the connecting portion <NUM> away from the supporting portion <NUM> is connected to the bending skeleton <NUM>, so that there is at least a specified distance from a joint between the connecting portion <NUM> and the bending skeleton <NUM> to the supporting portion <NUM>. The connecting portions <NUM> are flexible connecting portions, and there is a specified interval between the plurality of connecting portions <NUM>. Therefore, when the foldable display apparatus is folded, the flexible screen <NUM> bonded to the supporting portion <NUM> and the supporting portion <NUM> are bent together, and relative displacement is generated between the supporting portion <NUM> and the bending skeleton <NUM>, so that no relative displacement is likely generated between the supporting portion <NUM> and the flexible screen <NUM>. This improves strength of connection between the supporting portion <NUM> and the flexible screen <NUM>, reduces a risk of degumming between the flexible screen <NUM> and the flexible supporting bar <NUM>, and improves product quality of the foldable display apparatus.

It should be noted that, in this embodiment of this application, description is provided by using an example in which the flexible screen has the planar regions and the bending region. Correspondingly, the supporting structure has the planar supporting portions and the bending supporting portion. This implementation is used only as a specific solution for implementing this embodiment of this application. The supporting structure in the technical solution of this application is applicable to all solutions in which the flexible screen has a bending region. The supporting structure correspondingly has the bending supporting portion. A structure of a part other than the bending region of the flexible screen is not limited, for example, the part may be a curved-surface region or in any shape or state, provided that the supporting structure is adapted to the structure.

In an optional embodiment, there are a plurality of manners in which the connecting portions <NUM> are connected to the bending skeleton <NUM>. For example, the connecting portions <NUM> may be clamped with the bending skeleton <NUM>, or may be fixedly connected to the bending skeleton <NUM>, and a structure of the connecting portion <NUM> may be a clamping slot <NUM>, or may be a fixed protrusion <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, <FIG> is a schematic cross-sectional structural diagram of another bending supporting portion according to an embodiment of this application, and <FIG> is a schematic cross-sectional structural diagram of another bending supporting portion according to an embodiment of this application. In an optional embodiment, the connecting portions <NUM> are clamped with the bending skeleton <NUM>, the connecting portions <NUM> are clamping slots <NUM>, the bending skeleton <NUM> includes clamping heads <NUM>, and the clamping head <NUM> extends into the clamping slot <NUM> and is clamped with the clamping slot <NUM>. In this embodiment, the connecting portion <NUM> of the flexible supporting bar <NUM> is made of a flexible material. Therefore, the clamping slot <NUM> is also a flexible clamping slot <NUM>. The flexible clamping slot <NUM> has a slot hole <NUM>. There is a clamping wall <NUM> on a side of the slot hole <NUM> that is close to the bending skeleton <NUM>. The bending skeleton <NUM> has the clamping heads <NUM>. The clamping head <NUM> has a head <NUM> and a clamping neck <NUM>. A radial size of the head <NUM> of the clamping head <NUM> is greater than a radial size of the clamping neck <NUM>, and the head <NUM> of the clamping head <NUM> is close to a side of the flexible supporting bar <NUM>. During mounting, the head <NUM> of the clamping head <NUM> passes through a region of the clamping wall <NUM> of the clamping slot <NUM>, and the clamping wall <NUM> elastically expands, so that the head <NUM> of the clamping head <NUM> passes through the region of the clamping wall <NUM> to enter the slot hole <NUM> of the clamping slot <NUM>. When the clamping neck <NUM> is opposite to the clamping wall <NUM>, the head <NUM> of the clamping head <NUM> is clamped with the clamping wall <NUM> of the slot hole <NUM>. In this way, when the foldable display apparatus is folded, the bending supporting portion <NUM> is bent, and the supporting portion <NUM> of the flexible supporting bar <NUM> is connected to the bending bracket by using the clamping slot <NUM> and the clamping head <NUM>, so that the clamping slot <NUM> deforms during bending. Therefore, the supporting portion <NUM> and the flexible screen <NUM> fixedly connected to the supporting portion <NUM> are bent simultaneously, and no relative displacement is likely generated between the supporting portion <NUM> and the flexible screen <NUM>. In this way, this can improve strength of connection between the supporting portion <NUM> and the flexible screen <NUM>, reduce a risk of degumming between the flexible screen <NUM> and the flexible supporting bar <NUM>, and improve product quality of the foldable display apparatus.

As shown in <FIG>, in the foregoing embodiment, cross-sectional shapes of the clamping head and the clamping slot are not specifically limited, and a structure for clamping between the clamping head and the clamping slot is not specifically limited, either. As shown in <FIG>, in an embodiment, the cross-sectional shape of the clamping head is a rectangle, and the clamping head is clamped with the clamping slot in a planar manner. As shown in <FIG>, in another embodiment, the cross-sectional shape of the clamping head is an ellipse, and the clamping head is clamped with the clamping slot in a curved-surface manner. In this embodiment, the clamping head has a region whose size gradually increases in a direction away from the bottom of the clamping slot, to facilitate mounting the clamping head to the clamping slot. As shown in <FIG>, in still another specific embodiment, the cross-sectional shape of the clamping head is a triangle. In this embodiment, a size of the clamping head gradually increases in the direction away from the bottom of the clamping slot, to facilitate mounting.

<FIG> is a schematic cross-sectional structural diagram of another bending supporting portion according to an embodiment of this application, <FIG> is a schematic cross-sectional structural diagram of another bending supporting portion according to an embodiment of this application, and <FIG> is a schematic cross-sectional structural diagram of another bending supporting portion according to an embodiment of this application. In another optional embodiment, the connecting portions <NUM> may be fixed protrusions <NUM>, and an end of the fixed protrusion <NUM> away from the supporting portion <NUM> is connected to the bending skeleton <NUM>. Therefore, there is a specified distance from the joint between the connecting portion <NUM> and the bending skeleton <NUM> to the supporting portion <NUM>. Within the distance, connection is performed by using the fixed protrusion <NUM>. The fixed protrusion <NUM> is flexible and has relatively high flexibility. In this way, when the foldable display apparatus is folded, the bending supporting portion <NUM> is bent, and the fixed protrusion <NUM> is bent. Therefore, the supporting portion <NUM> and the flexible screen <NUM> fixedly connected to the supporting portion <NUM> are bent simultaneously, and no relative displacement is likely generated between the supporting portion <NUM> and the flexible screen <NUM>. In this way, this can improve strength of connection between the supporting portion <NUM> and the flexible screen <NUM>, reduce a risk of degumming between the flexible screen <NUM> and the flexible supporting bar <NUM>, and improve product quality of the foldable display apparatus.

Still referring to <FIG>, in a specific embodiment of this application, the fixed protrusions <NUM> may have fasteners, the bending skeleton <NUM> has bayonets <NUM>, and the fasteners are in one-to-one adaptation with the bayonets <NUM>, namely, the fasteners may be clamped with the bayonets <NUM>. Specifically, the fastener is flexible. When the bending supporting portion <NUM> is mounted to the bending skeleton <NUM>, the fastener may be inserted into the bayonet <NUM> of the bending skeleton <NUM>. The fastener may contract when passing through the bayonet <NUM>. The fastener returns to an original shape after passing through the bayonet <NUM>, and may be clamped with the bayonet <NUM>, so that an end of the fixed protrusion <NUM> away from the supporting portion <NUM> is connected to the bending skeleton <NUM>. In this embodiment, mounting can be completed by inserting the bayonet <NUM> of the fixed protrusion <NUM> into the bayonet <NUM> of the bending skeleton <NUM>. Therefore, a mounting process is relatively simple.

As shown in <FIG>, in the foregoing embodiment, cross-sectional shapes of the fastener and the bayonet are not specifically limited, and a structure for clamping between the fastener and the bayonet is not specifically limited, either. As shown in <FIG>, in an embodiment, the cross-sectional shape of the fastener is a rectangle, and the fastener is clamped with the bayonet in a planar manner. As shown in <FIG>, in another embodiment, the cross-sectional shape of the fastener is an ellipse, and the fastener is clamped with the bayonet in a curved-surface manner. In this embodiment, the fastener has a region whose size gradually increases in a direction away from the bottom of the bayonet, to facilitate mounting the fastener to the bayonet. As shown in <FIG>, in still another specific embodiment, the cross-sectional shape of the fastener is a triangle. In this embodiment, a size of the fastener gradually increases in the direction away from the bottom of the bayonet, to facilitate mounting.

A manner for connection between the fastener and the bayonet <NUM> further includes different implementation solutions. For example, a structure and a shape of the bayonet <NUM> are not specifically limited. The bayonet <NUM> may be a groove <NUM>, or may be a through hole <NUM>. Still referring to <FIG>, in an optional embodiment, the bayonet <NUM> is a groove <NUM>. An opening of the groove <NUM> has a clamping edge <NUM>. The fastener may pass through the clamping edge <NUM> and extends into the groove <NUM>, and is clamped with the clamping edge <NUM>. Specifically, the fastener is a flexible fastener. Therefore, when passing through the clamping edge <NUM>, the fastener contracts to enter the groove <NUM>, then returns to an original shape, and can be clamped with the clamping edge <NUM>, to complete mounting. In this embodiment, the fastener is clamped with the groove <NUM>. Therefore, specified displacement may alternatively occur at a joint between the fastener and the groove <NUM>, to facilitate absorbing deformation of the bending supporting portion <NUM>, and the connection manner facilitates mounting. In addition, in this embodiment, the fastener is located in the groove <NUM>. The groove <NUM> may protect the fastener, and no friction or structural interference likely occurs between a remaining structure and the fastener.

<FIG> is a schematic cross-sectional structural diagram of another bending supporting portion according to an embodiment of this application. In another optional embodiment, the bayonet <NUM> is a through hole <NUM>, the fastener passes through the through hole <NUM>, and is then clamped with an edge of the through hole <NUM>. In this embodiment, a process of mounting the fastener to the through hole <NUM> is also relatively convenient, and specified displacement may alternatively occur at a joint between the fastener and the through hole <NUM>, to facilitate absorbing deformation of the bending supporting portion <NUM>. In addition, in this embodiment, a structure of the through hole <NUM> is relatively simple, to simplify a manufacturing process of the bending skeleton <NUM>, and reduce manufacturing costs of the bending skeleton <NUM>.

<FIG> is a schematic cross-sectional structural diagram of another bending supporting portion according to an embodiment of this application. In another implementation of this application, the fixed protrusion <NUM> may alternatively be fixedly connected to the bending skeleton <NUM>. Specifically, the bending skeleton <NUM> may include mounting portions <NUM> in one-to-one adaptation with the fixed protrusions <NUM>. An end of the fixed protrusion <NUM> away from the supporting portion <NUM> is fastened to the mounting portion <NUM>. In this embodiment, the end of the fixed protrusion <NUM> away from the supporting portion <NUM> is fixedly connected to the bending skeleton <NUM>. In this embodiment, a joint between the fixed protrusion <NUM> and the bending skeleton <NUM> is connected to the supporting portion <NUM> by using the flexible fixed protrusion <NUM>, to absorb deformation of the bending supporting portion <NUM>. In this embodiment, strength of connection between the fixed protrusion <NUM> and the bending skeleton <NUM> is relatively high.

Still referring to <FIG>, in a specific embodiment, the mounting portion <NUM> has a mounting hole <NUM>, and the fixed protrusion <NUM> passes through the mounting hole <NUM> and is then fastened to the bending skeleton <NUM>. In this embodiment, the fixed protrusion <NUM> passes through the mounting hole <NUM>. Therefore, a hole wall of the mounting hole <NUM> may protect the fixed protrusion <NUM>, to improve a service life of the fixed protrusion <NUM>. In addition, the hole wall of the mounting hole <NUM> may limit the fixed protrusion <NUM>, to prevent excessively large displacement from being generated between the fixed protrusion <NUM> and the bending skeleton <NUM>, and improve strength of connection between the fixed protrusion <NUM> and the bending skeleton <NUM>.

In a specific embodiment of this application, a manner for fixed connection between the fixed protrusion <NUM> and the bending skeleton <NUM> is not limited. In a specific implementation, the fixed protrusion <NUM> is bonded and fastened to the mounting portion <NUM>. This connection manner has relatively low costs and a relatively simple process. In another specific implementation, the fixed protrusion <NUM> is fastened to the mounting portion <NUM> in a hot-melting manner. This connection manner has relatively high strength of fixed connection, and falling-off does not likely occur.

In an optional technical solution, a shape of the connecting portion is not limited. For example, the connecting portions may be bar-shaped connecting portions or dot-shaped connecting portions. The shape of the connecting portion may be selected based on an actual product requirement. <FIG> is a schematic structural diagram of a supporting structure according to an embodiment of this application. In a specific embodiment, the connecting portions <NUM> are bar-shaped connecting portions <NUM>, a quantity of bar-shaped connecting portions <NUM> required by the flexible supporting bar <NUM> is relatively small, and a structure of the flexible supporting bar <NUM> is relatively simple, so that the flexible supporting bar <NUM> has a simple manufacturing process and relatively low manufacturing costs.

Still referring to <FIG>, in a specific embodiment, the flexible supporting bar <NUM> has a plurality of bar-shaped connecting portions <NUM>, the bar-shaped connecting portions <NUM> extend in an extension direction of the flexible supporting bar <NUM>, and the plurality of bar-shaped connecting portions <NUM> are arranged in parallel. When the foldable display apparatus is folded, a folding direction is perpendicular to the extension direction of the flexible supporting bar <NUM>. Therefore, in this embodiment of this application, an extension direction of the bar-shaped connecting portion <NUM> is perpendicular to the folding direction of the flexible supporting bar <NUM>, so that a folding line of the foldable display apparatus is parallel to a region between the bar-shaped connecting portions <NUM>. In this way, when the foldable display apparatus is folded, the region between the parallel bar-shaped connecting portions <NUM> can be drastically bent, to facilitate a bending operation. In addition, the bar-shaped connecting portions <NUM> are not likely damaged. This improves a service life. As shown in <FIG>, the extension direction of the flexible supporting bar <NUM> is a direction A, and the folding direction is a direction B.

<FIG> is a schematic structural diagram of another supporting structure according to an embodiment of this application. In a specific embodiment, when the connecting portions <NUM> are dot-shaped connecting portions <NUM>, the dot-shaped connecting portions <NUM> are arranged in a matrix on the supporting portion <NUM>. In an aspect, the plurality of dot-shaped connecting portions <NUM> arranged in a matrix can provide a relatively reliable connection relationship. In another aspect, bar-shaped gaps may be formed between the dot-shaped connecting portions <NUM> that are arranged in a matrix, to facilitate a folding operation on the foldable display apparatus.

In a specific embodiment, a cross-sectional shape of the dot-shaped connecting portion in a direction parallel to the flexible screen <NUM> may be a circle, a square, or a polygon, and a shape of the dot-shaped connecting portion is relatively regular, to facilitate manufacturing.

In this embodiment of this application, the flexible screen of the foldable display apparatus may include one bending region, or may include two or more bending regions. Correspondingly, the supporting structure of the foldable display apparatus may include only one bending supporting portion, or may include two or more bending supporting portions. Specifically, a quantity of bending regions included in the foldable display apparatus may be correspondingly the same as a quantity of included bending supporting portions, so that degumming does not likely occur between the flexible screen and the bending supporting portion of the foldable display apparatus. Therefore, strength of connection between the flexible screen and the bending supporting portion of the foldable display apparatus can be improved, and product quality of the foldable display apparatus is relatively good. <FIG> is a schematic structural diagram of a foldable display apparatus according to an embodiment of this application. The flexible screen <NUM> of the foldable display apparatus shown in the figure includes three planar regions <NUM> and two bending regions <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG> is a schematic diagram of a folded state of another foldable display apparatus according to an embodiment of this application. According to a second aspect, this application further provides a foldable display apparatus, where the foldable display apparatus includes a flexible screen <NUM> and the supporting structure <NUM> of the foldable display apparatus in any one of the foregoing technical solutions. The supporting structure <NUM> includes a bending supporting portion <NUM> that supports a bending region <NUM> of the flexible screen <NUM>, and planar supporting portions <NUM> that support planar regions <NUM> of the flexible screen <NUM>. The bending supporting portion <NUM> includes a flexible supporting bar <NUM> and a bending skeleton <NUM>. The flexible supporting bar <NUM> includes a supporting portion <NUM> and connecting portions fastened to a side of the supporting portion <NUM> away from the flexible screen <NUM>. Distal ends of the connecting portions are fixedly connected to the bending skeleton <NUM>. Therefore, there may be space for relative movement between the flexible supporting bar <NUM> and the bending skeleton <NUM>. When the foldable display apparatus is bent, the flexible screen <NUM> may be stably connected to the supporting portion of the supporting bar, and degumming does not likely occur, so that product quality of the foldable display apparatus is relatively high.

In a specific implementation, a folding direction of the foregoing foldable display apparatus is not limited. As shown in <FIG>, the foldable display apparatus may be folded in a direction towards the flexible screen <NUM>. To be specific, after being folded, the flexible screen <NUM> is located between supporting housings of the foldable display apparatus. Alternatively, as shown in <FIG>, in another specific embodiment, the foldable display apparatus may be folded in a direction away from the flexible screen <NUM>. To be specific, after being folded, the flexible screen <NUM> is located on outer sides of supporting housings of the foldable display apparatus.

Claim 1:
A supporting structure (<NUM>), configured to support a foldable display apparatus with a flexible screen (<NUM>), and comprising a bending supporting portion (<NUM>) that supports a bending region (<NUM>) of the foldable display apparatus, wherein the bending supporting portion (<NUM>) comprises a bending skeleton and a flexible supporting bar, wherein
one side of the flexible supporting bar is configured to fasten a part of the flexible screen (<NUM>) that is located in the bending region (<NUM>), and the other side is connected to the bending skeleton (<NUM>) by using at least two connecting portions (<NUM>) that are distributed at intervals, characterized in that the connecting portions (<NUM>) comprise clamping slots (<NUM>), and the bending skeleton (<NUM>) comprises clamping heads (<NUM>) clamped with the clamping slots (<NUM>).