Patent ID: 12228765

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Technical solutions in some embodiments of the present disclosure will be described clearly and completely below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are merely some but not all embodiments of the present disclosure. All other embodiments obtained by a person of ordinary skill in the art based on the embodiments of the present disclosure shall be included in the protection scope of the present disclosure.

Unless the context requires otherwise, throughout the specification and the claims, the term “comprise” and other forms thereof such as the third-person singular form “comprises” and the present participle form “comprising” are construed as an open and inclusive meaning, i.e., “including, but not limited to”. In the description of the specification, the terms such as “one embodiment”, “some embodiments”, “exemplary embodiments”, “example”, “specific example” or “some examples” are intended to indicate that specific features, structures, materials or characteristics related to the embodiment(s) or example(s) are included in at least one embodiment or example of the present disclosure. Schematic representations of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment(s) or example(s). In addition, the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics may be included in any one or more embodiments or examples in any suitable manner.

Hereinafter, the terms such as “first” and “second” are used for descriptive purposes only, and are not to be construed as indicating or implying the relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of indicated technical features. Thus, a feature defined with “first” or “second” may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the features. In the description of the embodiments of the present disclosure, the term “a plurality of” or “the plurality of” means two or more unless otherwise specified.

The phrase “at least one of A, B and C” has the same meaning as the phrase “at least one of A, B or C”, and they both include the following combinations of A, B and C: only A, only B, only C, a combination of A and B, a combination of A and C, a combination of B and C, and a combination of A, B and C.

The phrase “A and/or B” includes the following three combinations: only A, only B, and a combination of A and B.

As used herein, the term “if” is optionally construed as “when” or “in a case where” or “in response to determining that” or “in response to detecting”, depending on the context. Similarly, depending on the context, the phrase “if it is determined that” or “if [a stated condition or event] is detected” is optionally construed as “in a case where it is determined that”, “in response to determining that”, “in a case where [the stated condition or event] is detected”, or “in response to detecting [the stated condition or event]”.

Additionally, the phase “based on” as used herein is meant to be open and inclusive, since a process, a step, a calculation or other action that is “based on” one or more of stated conditions or values may, in practice, be based on additional conditions or values beyond those stated.

As used herein, the term such as “parallel”, “perpendicular” or “equal” includes a stated condition and a condition similar to the stated condition, a range of the similar condition is within an acceptable range of deviation, and the acceptable range of deviation is determined by a person of ordinary skill in the art, considering measurement in question and errors associated with measurement of a particular quantity (i.e., limitations of a measurement system). For example, the term “parallel” includes absolute parallelism and approximate parallelism, and an acceptable range of deviation of the approximate parallelism may be, for example, a deviation within 5°; the term “perpendicular” includes absolute perpendicularity and approximate perpendicularity, and an acceptable range of deviation of the approximate perpendicularity may also be, for example, a deviation within 5°. The term “equal” includes absolute equality and approximate equality, and an acceptable range of deviation of the approximate equality may be that, for example, a difference between the two that are equal is less than or equal to 5% of either of the two.

Exemplary embodiments are described herein with reference to sectional views and/or plan views as idealized exemplary drawings. In the accompanying drawings, thicknesses of layers and sizes of regions are enlarged for clarity. Thus, variations in shape relative to the accompanying drawings due to, for example, manufacturing technologies and/or tolerances may be envisaged. Therefore, the exemplary embodiments should not be construed as being limited to the shapes of the regions shown herein, but including shape deviations due to, for example, manufacturing. For example, an etched region shown in a rectangular shape generally has a feature of being curved. Therefore, the regions shown in the accompanying drawings are schematic in nature, and their shapes are not intended to show actual shapes of regions in a device, and are not intended to limit the scope of the exemplary embodiments.

With the continuous improvements in pursuits of users, a curved display can bring better experience to the users visually than a flat display in a case where sizes of display screens of the two are the same. However, in a case where a display screen of a liquid crystal display is in a state of being curved, a shape of an optical film such as a light guide plate of a backlight module is changed accordingly.

As shown inFIG.1, in some examples, the backlight module includes a backboard20and a curved optical plate10′. The curved optical plate10′ is located in an accommodation space of the backboard20. The curved optical plate10′ includes a light exit surface11′ and a bottom surface13′ that are opposite to each other, a distance between an edge of the light exit surface11′ and the backboard20is represented as d1, and a distance between the bottom surface13′ and the backboard20is represented as d2. At a high temperature, the curved optical plate10′ expands to be in contact with an inner wall of the backboard20, which causes a damage to the optical film. In order to protect the optical film, the backlight module is provided with a space, in which the optical film is allowed to expand, between a bezel and the optical film.

As for a curved light guide plate in the curved display, since the light guide plate has a relatively large thickness, a side wall of the curved light guide plate expands outwards relative to the light exit surface. Thus, a distance between the light exit surface of the light guide plate and the bezel is increased, thereby increasing a width of the bezel of the display device. As a result, it is not conducive to achieving a narrow bezel of the display device.

In light of this, some embodiments of the present disclosure provide a curved optical plate and a method of manufacturing the same, a backlight module and a display device, which will be respectively described below.

As shown inFIG.2, the display device1000may be a small-to-medium-sized electronic device such as a tablet computer, a smart phone, a head-mounted display, an automobile navigation unit, a camera, a central information display (CID) provided in a vehicle, a watch-type electronic device or another wearable device, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a portable multimedia player (PMP) or a gaming machine, or may be a medium-to-large-sized electronic device such as a television, an external billboard, a monitor, a home appliance including a display screen, a personal computer or a laptop computer. The electronic device as described above may represent a simple example used for applying the display device, and a person of ordinary skill in the art may understood, without departing from the spirit and the scope of the present disclosure, that the display device may be another electronic device.

The display device may be a curved liquid crystal display (CLCD), a liquid crystal display (LCD), a mini light emitting diode (mini LED) display, a micro light emitting diode (Micro LED) display, etc.

The following embodiments of the present disclosure will be described by taking an example where the display device is the CLCD, but it will be understood that the display device is not limited to the LCD.

As shown inFIGS.2to3, the display device1000includes a backlight module100and a display panel200that are arranged in a first direction X. The display panel200is located on a light exit side of the backlight module100. Based on monochromatic light emitted by the backlight module100, the display panel200is capable of converting the monochromatic light into light of a plurality of colors and emitting the light of the plurality of colors, so as to display an image.

As shown inFIG.4, the backlight module100includes a backboard20, a light source30, an optical film, a mold frame50and a curved optical plate10. The backboard20has an accommodation space23, and the light source30, the mold frame50, the optical film and the curved optical plate10are all located in the accommodation space23. According to a position of the light source30, the backlight module100may be classified into a direct-lit backlight module and an edge-lit backlight module. In a case where the backlight module100is the direct-lit backlight module, the curved optical plate10is a diffuser plate, and the light source30is located on a side of the diffuser plate away from the display panel200. In a case where the backlight module100is the edge-lit backlight module, the curved optical plate10is a light guide plate, and the light source at least partially surrounds a side surface of the light guide plate.

As shown inFIG.4, the mold frame50may be connected to the backboard20, which is used for supporting and protecting the curved optical plate10and the optical film in the backlight module100. The mold frame50mainly has a function of supporting, and the mold frame50also has a function of maintaining a distance between the display panel200and the optical film.

The backboard20includes a bottom plate21and a surrounding plate22that extends from an edge of the bottom plate21to a side of the bottom plate21, and the bottom plate21and the surrounding plate22define the accommodation space23. The backboard20has a function of supporting the optical film in the backlight module100together with the rubber frame50.

According to a form of the light, the light source30may be classified into three types of a linear light source, a point light source and an area light source. A light incident surface of the curved optical plate10faces the light source30, which is used for receiving the light emitted by the light source30and uniformly emitting the light from a light exit surface11of the curved optical plate10.

The optical film may include a film structure such as a brightness enhancement film located on the light exit surface of the curved optical plate10, so as to improve a brightness and a uniformity of light emitted by the backlight module100.

The following will be described considering the direct-lit backlight module as an example, and a working principle of the curved optical plate10(the light guide plate) in the edge-lit backlight module is similar to a working principle of the curved optical plate10(the diffuser plate) in the direct-lit backlight module, which will not be repeated here.

For example, in the case where the backlight module100is the direct-lit backlight module, as shown inFIG.4, the backlight module100includes the backboard20, the light source30and the curved optical plate10. The backboard20includes the bottom plate21and the surrounding plate22that extends from the edge of the bottom plate21to the side of the bottom plate21, and the bottom plate21and the surrounding plate22define the accommodation space23. The light source30is located in the accommodation space23. The curved optical plate10is located in the accommodation space23, and the light incident surface of the curved optical plate10faces the light source30. As shown inFIG.5, the curved optical plate10includes the curved light exit surface11and first side surfaces12respectively connected to uncurved edges111of the light exit surface11. At least one first side surface12includes a first surface121, and the first surface121extends towards an interior15of the curved optical plate10.

With continued reference toFIGS.4and5, the curved optical plate10is located in the accommodation space23. The light incident surface of the curved optical plate10faces the bottom plate21, the light exit surface11and the light incident surface of the curved optical plate10are opposite to each other, and the light exit surface11protrudes towards the bottom plate21. A first side surface12is connected between an uncurved edge111of the light exit surface11and the light incident surface. The at least one first side surface12includes the first surface121, and the first surface121extends towards the interior15of the curved optical plate10. That is, the first surface121extends towards a direction away from the surrounding plate22. The light source30is located between the light incident surface and the bottom plate21, and faces the light incident surface. The curved optical plate10further includes a bottom surface13opposite to the light exit surface11. It will be noted that the bottom surface13is the light incident surface and is opposite to the light source30.

In the example shown inFIG.1, an edge of the curved optical plate10′ expands outwards relative to the light exit surface11′ of the curved optical plate10′. When the curved optical plate10′ expands at the high temperature, an end of the curved optical plate10′ expands mainly towards a surrounding plate22. Therefore, a space is provided between the surrounding plate22and the end of the curved optical plate10′, so as to avoid a damage caused by which the curved optical plate10′ expands to be in contact with the surrounding plate22. A maximum distance between the surrounding plate22and the curved optical plate10′ is represented as d1, and a minimum distance between the two is represented as d2. Thus, a length, expanding outwards relative to the light exit surface11′ of the curved optical plate10′, of the edge of the curved optical plate10′ is equal to a difference between the maximum distance d1′ and the minimum distance d2′.

Therefore, in the example shown inFIG.1, in addition to the space for the expansion, the distance between the surrounding plate22and the curved optical plate10′ is set for further providing a space for accommodating the edge of the curved optical plate10′ expanding outwards relative to the light exit surface11′ of the curved optical plate10′, so that a problem that the bezel of the display device1000is relatively wide is prone to occur.

In the embodiments of the present disclosure, an end of the first surface121of the curved optical plate10is connected to the uncurved edge111of the light exit surface11, and the other end of the first surface121is capable of extending towards the direction away from the surrounding plate22. That is, an edge of the curved optical plate10is concave relative to the light exit surface11of the curved optical plate10. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a space, used for accommodating an edge of the curved optical plate10expanding outwards relative to the light exit surface11of the curved optical plate10, between the surrounding plate22and the curved optical plate10. In this way, a distance between an edge of the light exit surface11and the surrounding plate22may be reduced, which facilitates an achievement of the narrow bezel of the display device1000, so as to improve a screen-to-body ratio of the display device1000.

In some embodiments, an orthographic projection of at least part of the first surface(s)121on the bottom plate21is at least partially located within an orthographic projection of the light exit surface11on the bottom plate21.

The orthographic projection of the at least part of the first surface(s)121on the bottom plate21may be arranged in two cases. In a case, all of the orthographic projection of the at least part of the first surface(s)121on the bottom plate21is all located within the orthographic projection of the light exit surface11on the bottom plate21. In another case, a part of the orthographic projection of the at least part of the first surface(s)121on the bottom plate21is located within the orthographic projection of the light exit surface11on the bottom plate21, and the other part of orthographic projection of all the first surface(s)121on the bottom plate21is located outside the orthographic projection of the light exit surface11on the bottom plate21. Compared withFIG.1in which orthographic projections of all first side surfaces12′ on the bottom plate21are located within an orthographic projection of the light exit surface11′ of the curved optical plate10′ on the bottom plate21, in the embodiments of the present disclosure, a distance that the first side surface12expands outwards may be reduced. As a result, the distance between the light exit surface11of the curved optical plate10and the surrounding plate22is reduced, which facilitates the achievement of the narrow bezel of the display device1000.

As shown inFIG.4, in some embodiments, the bottom surface13of the curved optical plate10is opposite to the light exit surface11, and an orthographic projection of the bottom surface13on the bottom plate21is located within the orthographic projection of the light exit surface11on the bottom plate21.

As shown inFIG.1, in a case where the curved optical plate10′ protrudes toward the bottom surface13′, an area of the bottom surface13′ is greater than an area of the light exit surface11′, and an area of an orthographic projection of the bottom surface13′ on the bottom plate21is actually greater than an area of the orthographic projection of the light exit surface11′ on the bottom plate21. In these embodiments, as shown inFIG.4, the first surface121extends towards the interior15of the curved optical plate10, so5that the orthographic projection of the bottom surface13on the bottom plate21is located within the orthographic projection of the light exit surface11on the bottom plate21. As a result, a size of a side, proximate to the bottom plate21, of the curved optical plate10may be reduced, thereby facilitating the achievement of the narrow bezel of the display device1000.

As shown inFIG.4, in the case where the backlight module100is the direct-lit backlight module, the curved optical plate10is a diffuser plate; the backlight module100further includes a reflective film40, the reflective film40is located on a surface of the diffuser plate facing the bottom surface21, and the light source30is located between the reflective film40and the diffuser plate.

As shown inFIG.6, in the case where the backlight module100is the edge-lit backlight module, the curved optical plate10is a light guide plate, and the light source is located between the light guide plate and the surrounding plate22; the backlight module100further includes a reflective film40, the reflective film40covers the bottom surface13of the light guide plate, and an area of the reflective film40is less than an area of the light exit surface11.

An area of the bottom surface13of the curved optical plate10is reduced by extending the first surface121towards the interior, and the reflective film40is used for reflecting light back to the bottom surface13of the curved optical plate10. Thus, it is possible to reduce the area of the reflective film40, so that a probability of a damage cause by which the reflective film40is in contact with the surrounding plate22due to a relatively large area of the reflective film40may be reduced.

In some embodiments, as shown inFIGS.4and5, the curved optical plate10includes the curved light exit surface11and the first side surfaces12. As shown inFIG.5, the curved light exit surface11includes at least one curved edge112and at least one uncurved edge111. The first side surface12is connected to the uncurved edge111of the light exit surface11. The at least one first side surface12includes the first surface121, and the first surface121extends towards the interior15of the curved optical plate10. For example, the first surface121extends towards the direction away from the surrounding plate22.

In some examples, the light exit surface11of the curved optical plate10may be in a shape of a quadrilateral. In this case, the light exit surface11may include two curved edges112and two uncurved edges111, the two uncurved edges111are opposite to each other, and each uncurved edge111may be connected to a first side surface12. At least one first side surface12includes a first surface121. As for the number of first surfaces121that are provided, it will be understood that one of the two first side surfaces12includes a first surface121, or the two first side surfaces12each include a first surface121. As for an area of the first surface121, the area of the first surface121may be equal to an area of the first side surface12(for example, the first surface121is the first side surface12); alternatively, the area of the first surface121may be less than the area of the first side surface12(for example, the first surface121is a portion of the first side surface12).

For example, in a case where the first surface121is the first side surface12(the first side surface12as shown inFIG.5), the first surface121extends from the uncurved edge111of the light exit surface11towards the direction away from the surrounding plate22. That is, the first surface121extends from the uncurved edge111of the light exit surface11towards the interior15of the curved optical plate10.

In the example shown inFIG.1, the backlight module is a direct-lit backlight module. The maximum distance between the curved optical plate10′ and the surrounding plate22is the distance d1between the edge of the light exit surface11′ of the curved optical plate10′ and the surrounding plate22, and the minimum distance between the curved optical plate10′ and the surrounding plate22is the distance (i.e., the distance d2between the bottom surface13′ and the backboard20) between an edge of a light incident surface of the curved optical plate10′ and the surrounding plate22. As shown inFIG.4, in the embodiments of the present disclosure, a minimum distance between the curved optical plate10and the surrounding plate22is the distance d3between the edge of the light exit surface11of the curved optical plate10and the surrounding plate22; a maximum distance between the curved optical plate10and the surrounding plate22is a distance d4between an edge of the bottom surface13(the light incident surface) of the curved optical plate10and the surrounding plate22.

It can be seen that the minimum distance d3between the curved optical plate10and the surrounding plate22inFIG.4is equal to the maximum distance d1between the curved optical plate10′ and the surrounding plate22inFIG.1. The distance, that is maintained to be equal to the distance d2, between the curved optical plate10and the surrounding plate22may satisfy the requirement for the expansion, so that it is possible to actually shorten the distance between the light exit surface of the curved optical plate10and the surrounding plate22inFIG.4(for example, the distance is actually shortened by a distance of (d1−d2)). As a result, a distance between the bezel of the display device1000and the light exit surface11may be reduced, which facilitates the achievement of the narrow bezel of the display device1000.

It will be understood that, in the above embodiments, only a case where the single first side surface12of the curved optical plate10is provided with the first surface121is described. In a case where the two first side surfaces12are each provided with the first surface121, a distance, in the curved optical plate10, between each of the two uncurved edges111and a respective surrounding plate22may be reduced, so as to achieve narrow bezels on two sides. As a result, the screen-to-body ratio is further improved.

The curved optical plate10itself has a certain thickness, and bending degrees of different curved optical plates10are different. Thus, when the curved optical plate10is bent at a different angle, a degree to which the edge of the curved optical plate10protrudes relative to the light exit surface11is different. Correspondingly, in curved optical plates10with different degrees of bending, degrees to which the respective first surfaces121extend, towards the direction away from the surrounding plate22, is different.

For example, as shown inFIG.7, a thickness of the curved optical plate10is represented as t; the curved optical plate10is a cambered plate, a central angle of the cambered plate is represented as A, a radius of the cambered plate is represented as r, and a component of the first side surface12in a second direction Y is represented as d5. Based on the above parameters, it may be obtained that:

d⁢5=(r+t2)⁢sin⁢A2-(r-t2)⁢sin⁢A2.
The formula may be simplified as:

d⁢5=t⁢sin⁢A2.

It can be seen that, in a case where the central angle of the cambered plate varies, the distance d5varies accordingly, and thus a degree to which the first side surface12extends towards the direction away from the surrounding plate22varies.

In some examples, as for the curved optical plate10shown inFIG.8, in a case where the central angle A is 180°, a distance d5of outward expansion of an expanding portion (represented by the dashed line inFIG.8) of the curved optical plate10in the related art is the largest. In this case, the distance d5is equal to the thickness t of the curved optical plate10. The first side surface12of the curved optical plate10provided in the embodiments of the present disclosure includes the first surface121(represented by the bold solid line inFIG.8). In this case, the curved optical plate10does not expand outwards relative to the light exit surface11. In this way, in the curved optical plate10provided in the embodiments of the present disclosure, the distance between the light exit surface11of the curved optical plate10and the surrounding plate22may be shortened, which facilitates the narrow bezel of the display device1000.

For example, as shown inFIG.9, at least one first side surface12further includes a second surface122, and the second surface122is connected to the first surface121and the light exit surface11. In this way, the first surface121serves as a portion of the first side surface12, and the second surface122serves as another portion of the first side surface12, so that the shape of the first side surface12changes. As a result, it may be possible to improve the adaptability of the curved optical plate10in an inner space of a different backlight module.

The light exit surface11includes an uncurved edge111connected to the second surface122, and a tangent plane17where the edge is located may be perpendicular to the second surface122. Of course, the second surface122may extend towards the direction away from the surrounding plate22, which may be understood that the second surface122extends toward the interior15of the curved optical plate10. As shown inFIG.9, an included angle between the second surface122and the tangent plane17where the uncurved edge111is located is an acute angle. In this way, a length of the light guide plate in the direction away from the surrounding plate22may be further reduced.

In some embodiments, as shown inFIG.10, at least one first side surface12further includes a third surface123, and the third surface123is connected to the bottom surface13and the first surface121. For example, the first surface121is directly connected to the edge of the light exit surface11, and the third surface123is disposed between the first surface121and the bottom surface13. In this way, it may be possible to improve the variability of the shape of the first side surface12, so as to improve the adaptability of the curved optical plate10in the inner space of the different backlight module.

It will be understood that, the third surface123may extend towards the direction away from the surrounding plate22, which may be understood that the third surface123extends toward the interior15of the curved optical plate10. In this way, the length of the light guide plate in the direction away from the surrounding plate22may be further reduced.

In addition, in some embodiments, at least one first side surface12may include both the second surface122and the third surface123. As shown inFIG.11, the edge of the light exit surface11, the second surface122, the first surface121, the third surface123and the bottom surface13are connected in sequence, so as to further improve the variability of the shape of the first side surface12. A positional relationship among the second surface122, the first surface121, the third surface123and the bottom surface13may be adjusted according to actual situations, which will not be described here.

In some embodiments, the first surface121may be in a shape of a plane or a curved surface.

In some examples, the first surface121is the plane, and the first side surface12is the first surface121. With reference toFIGS.1and12, in the related art, an included angle between the first surface121′ and a tangent plane where an uncurved edge111′ is located may be 90°. In this case, a distance between an end of the first surface121′ (represented by the dashed line inFIG.12) away from the uncurved edge111′ and the uncurved edge111′ may be represented as b. In the embodiments shown inFIGS.4,5and12, an included angle between the first surface121(represented by the bold solid line inFIG.12) and a tangent plane17where an uncurved edge111connected to the first surface121is located is less than 90°. In this case, a distance between an end of the first surface121away from the uncurved edge111and the uncurved edge111may be represented as c; where c is less than b. In this way, in a case where the included angle between the first surface121and the tangent plane where the uncurved edge111is located is less than 90°, it is possible to shorten an expanding distance of the curved optical plate10relative to the light exit surface11on a basis of changing a shape of the first surface121.

For example, in a case where the first surface121is the curved surface, as shown inFIG.19, the curved surface may protrude towards a direction D1away from the light exit surface11; alternatively, as shown inFIG.20, the curved surface may protrude towards a direction D2proximate to the light exit surface11. In this way, it is possible to change a shape of the edge of the curved optical plate10on a basis of not affecting the usage of the curved optical plate10.

In some embodiments, as shown inFIG.13, the curved optical plate10further includes second side surface(s)14each connected to a curved edge112of the light exit surface11, and at least one second side surface14includes a first surface121.

For example, referring toFIG.13, the second side surface14includes the first surface121. Of course, there may be two second side surfaces14, and the two second side surfaces14are opposite to each other. The two second side surfaces14may be each provided with a first surface121. In a case where the second side surface14is provided with the first surface121, a relationship between the first surface121and the second side surface14is similar to a relationship between the first surface121of the first side surface12and the first side surface12. For example, the first surface121is the second side surface14; alternatively, the first surface121is a portion of the second side surface14.

The second side surface14includes the first surface121, which may reduce a volume of a side, that is proximate to the bottom plate21, of the light exit surface11of the curved optical plate10, so as to optimize the inner space of the display module and facilitate a structural arrangement (for example, an arrangement of signal lines) on the side, that is proximate to the bottom plate21, of the light exit surface11of the curved optical plate10.

It will be understood that, in addition to the first surface121, the second side surface14may further include a second surface122and a third surface123. As for a shape of the second side surface14, reference may be made to the shape of the first side surface12, which will not be listed here.

In some embodiments, as shown inFIGS.6and13, the first side surface12is the light incident surface, and/or the second side surface14is the light incident surface; the light incident surface is opposite to the light source30. In this case, the backlight module100may be the edge-lit backlight module.

It will be noted that a description that the first side surface12is the light incident surface and/or the second side surface14is the light incident surface includes three cases, which are a case where the first side surface12is the light incident surface, another case where the second side surface14is the light incident surface and yet another case where the first side surface12and the second side surface14are both the light incident surface.

In this way, a position of the light incident surface, and position(s) and the number of provided light source(s)30may be determined according to actual situations, so as to improve flexibility of a design of the inner space of the backlight module100.

In summary, the first side surface12of the curved optical plate10has the first surface121extending towards the interior, which may reduce or even eliminate the expanding distance of the curved optical plate10relative to the light exit surface11, so as to reduce the distance between the edge of the light exit surface11and the surrounding plate22. Thus, it is possible to facilitate the achievement of the narrow bezel of the display device1000, so that the screen-to-body ratio of the display device1000is further improved.

FIG.14is a flow diagram of a method of manufacturing a curved optical plate10provided in some embodiments of the present disclosure.

Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method of manufacturing a curved optical plate10, as shown inFIG.14, the method of manufacturing the curved optical plate10includes the following steps.

In S210, an initial optical plate is provided.

In S220, the initial optical plate is processed to form the curved optical plate10. The curved optical plate10includes a light exit surface11, and a first side surface12connected to an uncurved edge111of the light exit surface11. At least one first side surface12includes a first surface121, and the first surface121extends towards an interior of the curved optical plate10.

The initial optical plate before processing may be presented in a state of a curved plate or a state of a planar plate. Whether the initial optical plate is in the state of the planar plate or the state of the curved plate, a subsequent formation of the curved optical plate10will not be affected.

When the initial optical plate is processed, the initial optical plate may be placed in a processing position of a processing device such as a metallurgical tool. The initial optical plate is fixed by the processing position. There may be a single initial optical plate or a plurality of initial optical plates placed in the processing position. In a case where the plurality of initial optical plates16are all placed in the processing position, the plurality of initial optical plates16may be placed in a stacked manner (as shown inFIGS.15and16); there is a distance between portions, that are to be processed, of two adjacent initial optical plates, and orientations of portions, that are to be processed, of all the initial optical plates are consistent. In this way, the plurality of initial optical plates may be processed simultaneously.

In some examples, a portion, that is to be processed, of an initial optical plate in the state of the curved plate may be cut by using a cutting mechanism to form the first surface121, thereby forming the curved optical plate10. In this way, the shaped curved optical plate10includes the concave light exit surface11and the first side surface12connected to the uncurved edge111of the light exit surface11; the first side surface12includes the first surface121, and the first surface121extends toward the interior of the curved optical plate10.

In the manufacturing method provided in some embodiments of the present disclosure, the curved optical plate10may be formed by processing the initial optical plate by using a tool such as the metallurgical tool, and there is no need to polish processed portions, so that processing steps are simplified, and a manufacturing efficiency of the curved optical plate10is improved.

It will be noted that, in a case where the initial optical plate before processing is in the state of the planar plate or the state of the curved plate, a subsequent processing manner of the initial optical plate is different. For example, the initial optical plate in the state of the planar plate needs to be bent subsequently; the initial optical plate in the state of the curved plate does not need to be bent subsequently.

As shown inFIG.17, in some embodiments, in a case where the initial optical plate before processing is in the state of the planar plate, S220may include S221and S222.

In S221, the initial optical plate is bent, so as to form a first transition optical plate having a concave surface.

In S222, at least a portion, located outside the concave surface of the first transition optical plate, of an end of the first transition optical plate is removed, so as to form the curved optical plate10having the first surface.

The method includes the following steps. Firstly, a bending processing is performed on the initial optical plate, so that the bent initial optical plate forms the first transition optical plate having the concave surface. That is, the first transition optical plate in a state of a curved plate is obtained. Next, the first transition optical plate in the state of the curved plate may be placed in the metallurgical tool. Subsequently, the end of the first transition optical plate may be partially removed by using the cutting mechanism, and the removed portion is caused to be located outside the concave surface of the first transition optical plate (i.e., located on a side of the first transition optical plate away from the light exit surface11), so that the first surface121is formed. In this way, the curved optical plate10may be obtained.

The bending processing is firstly performed on the initial optical plate, so that the first transition optical plate at a different bending angle may be cut according to a bending degree of the first transition optical plate. As a result, an accuracy of a respective cut portion is improved, so that the formed curved optical plate10may be more consistent with the preset curved optical plate10.

For example, as shown inFIG.18, in the case where the initial optical plate before processing is in the state of the planar plate, S220may include S223and S224.

In S223, at least a portion, proximate to a first side, of an end of the initial optical plate is removed, so as to form a second transition optical plate having the first surface.

In S224, the second transition optical plate is bent, so as to form the curved optical plate10; the first surface is located outside a concave surface of the curved optical plate, and a convex surface of the curved optical plate faces the first side.

Firstly, the portion of the end of the initial optical plate may be cut by using the cutting mechanism. The portion to be cut is located on a side of the end proximate to the first side; after the initial optical plate is cut, the second transition optical plate having the first surface121may be formed. Subsequently, the second transition optical plate may be bent, so that the second transition optical plate protrudes toward a second side opposite to the first side. Thus, the light exit surface having the concave surface is formed, the convex surface of the curved optical plate faces the first side, and the first surface is located outside the concave surface. In this way, the curved optical plate10may be formed.

The initial optical plate is cut and bent in sequence, and a bending degree of the initial optical plate may be adjusted according to a cutting amount. It will be understood that the above two manufacturing methods may be selected according to actual situations.

In addition to using a tool such as the cutting mechanism, the curved optical plate10may be manufactured by a one-piece molding manner. For example, the curved optical plate10is manufactured by using an injection molding part.

Compared with a series of processings including providing the initial optical plate, and cutting and bending the initial optical plate, the one-piece molding manner may further accelerate a manufacturing speed of the curved optical plate10. A specific method of manufacturing the curved optical plate10is not limited to the above manners, which will not be listed here.

The foregoing descriptions are merely specific implementations of the present disclosure, but the protection scope of the present disclosure is not limited thereto. Changes or replacements that any person skilled in the art could conceive of within the technical scope of the present disclosure shall be included in the protection scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, the protection scope of the present disclosure shall be subject to the protection scope of the claims.