Patent ID: 12207524

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The embodiments of the present disclosure are described below in further detail with reference to the drawings. Although the drawings show the embodiments of the present disclosure, it should be understood that the present disclosure may be exemplified in many various forms and should not be construed as being limited to the particular embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this application will be thorough and complete, and the scope of the present disclosure will be fully conveyed to those skilled in the art.

In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the words “first” and “second” are used to distinguish between identical or similar terms having essentially the same function and effect,

In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the words “first” and “second” are used to distinguish between identical or similar items having essentially the same function and effect, merely for the purpose of clearly describing the technical solution of the present disclosure, and cannot be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated.

In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the meaning of “a plurality of” is two or more than two, unless there is a specific limitation otherwise.

A display panel is provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure, as referred toFIG.1, including an active area1, a bending area2located on a side of the active area1, and a bonding area3located on a side of the bending area2away from the active area1. As referred toFIG.2, the active area includes a substrate10and a luminescent unit11disposed on the substrate10, the bending area includes a bending part21, the bonding area includes a bonding part22, the bending part21is connected to the bonding part22, and the bending part21is configured for bending the bonding part22on a side of the substrate10away from the luminescent unit11.

The active area (AA) as mentioned above is used to realize the displaying, and the bonding area (PAD area) is used to bond the chip, a driving circuit, and other circuit structures. In order to greatly reduce a frame area, the bonding area of the display panel may be bent to a side of the substrate away from the luminescent unit. The specific structure of the luminescent unit as mentioned above is not limited herein, it needs to be determined according to the type of practical display panel. For example, the luminescent unit may include an organic electro-luminescent unit or a quantum dot luminescent unit and so forth.

The specific structures of the bending part and the bonding part as mentioned above are not limited, the structures may be selected according to the practical situation. The fixing method of the bonding part and the substrate is not limited. For example, the bonding part and a side of the substrate away from the luminescent unit may be fixed by using an adhesive.

The bonding area as mentioned above may include a first flexible base plate, and the bonding part may be disposed on the first flexible base plate. The first flexible base plate and the substrate of the active area may be an integrated structure or may be disposed separately, which is not limited herein. A material of the first flexible base plate may be a flexible material such as polyimide (PI) and so forth. Similarly, the bending area may further include a second flexible base plate, and the bending part may be disposed on the second flexible base plate. The second flexible base plate, the first flexible base plate, and the substrate of the active area may be an integrated structure or may be disposed separately, which is not limited herein. A material of the second flexible base plate may be a flexible material such as polyimide (PI) and so forth.

The display panel as mentioned above may be a flexible display panel (also referred as a flexible screen), which may be an Organic Light-Emitting Diode (OLED) display panel, and may also be a Micro LED micro-display panel or a Mini LED micro-display panel, and any other products or components with a displaying function including these display panels such as televisions, digital cameras, mobile phones, tablets and so forth.

As referred toFIG.2, the display panel further includes a protection part31, the protection part31is configured for at least covering the bending part21, and the protection part31includes a first end321and a second end322opposite to each other, the first end321is fixed to the back of the substrate10and the second end322is disposed on a side of the bending part21away from the substrate10.

That the protection part as mentioned above at least covers the bending part includes: the protection part may only cover the bending part; or, as referred toFIG.2, the protection part31covers the bending part21and a part of the bonding part22; or, as referred toFIG.3, the protection part31covers the bending part21and the entire bonding part22, which is not limited herein.

The fixing method between the protection part and the substrate as mentioned above is not limited. For example, the protection part and the substrate may be fixed by bonding or by using the threads, and so forth. As referred toFIG.2andFIG.3, the bonding part31and a side of the substrate10away from the luminescent unit11are fixed by using a fixed part20. The specific shape of the protection part is not limited, as long as it is capable of meeting the requirements of at least covering the bending part.

A material of the protection part as mentioned above is not limited. In order to provide better protection, the protection part may be made of a material with a certain hardness, such as a metal or a metal alloy.

A display panel is provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure, which effectively protects the bending part of the bending area by arranging a protection part, and the support of the bending part is improved at the same time, thereby improving the performance and quality of the display panel.

In order to further protect the bonding part, as referred toFIG.3, the protection part31is further configured for covering the bonding part22.

Optionally, as referred toFIG.4, the display panel further includes a chip part23, the chip part23is disposed on a side of the bonding part22away from the substrate10, the bonding part22is electrically connected to the chip part23, and the protection part31is further configured for covering the chip part23.

The chip part as mentioned above may include a chip, and a type of the chip is not limited. For example, the chip may be an advanced reduced instruction set computing machines (Advanced RISC Machines, ARM) chip, a Digital Signal Processing (DSP) chip or a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) chip and so forth. The chip may be disposed on a side of the bonding part away from the substrate by hot pressing.

While protecting the bonding part, the protection part may also be capable of protecting the chip part, thus providing strong support and protection. If the display panel is applied in a display apparatus with a touching function, the protection part is capable of providing enough support when a user touches and presses, so as to avoid damaging the bonding area and the chip part, thus improving the product quality and prolonging the service life. If the display panel is applied in a display apparatus with a folding function, due to displacement of the display panel may happen during folding or curling, the protection part is capable of avoiding a direct collision between the bending part of the bending area and a middle frame carrying the display panel, thereby improving the reliability of the display apparatus.

Optionally, as referred toFIG.4, the display panel further includes a circuit board24, and the circuit board24is disposed on a side of the substrate10away from the luminescent unit11; the bonding part22is electrically connected to the circuit board24, and the protection part31is further configured for covering the circuit board24.

The circuit board as mentioned above may be a Flexible Printed Circuit (FPC), or other ordinary circuit board, which is not limited herein. The circuit board may be disposed on the side of the substrate away from the luminescent unit by hot pressing.

While protecting the bonding part, the protection part may also be capable of protecting the circuit board, thus providing strong support and protection. If the display panel is applied in a display apparatus with a touching function, the protection part is capable of providing enough support when a user touches and presses, so as to avoid damaging the bonding area and the circuit board, thus improving the product quality and prolonging the service life. If the display panel is applied in a display apparatus with a folding function, due to displacement of the display panel may happen during folding or curling, the protection part is capable of avoiding a direct collision between the bending part of the bending area and a middle frame carrying the display panel, thereby improving the reliability of the display apparatus.

Optionally, as referred toFIG.4, the display panel further includes a chip part23and a circuit board24, the chip part23is disposed on a side of the bonding part22away from the substrate10, and the circuit board24is disposed on a side of the substrate10away from the luminescent unit11; the bonding part22is electrically connected to the chip part23and the circuit board24; and the protection part31is further configured for covering the chip part23and the circuit board24.

The circuit board as mentioned above may be a Flexible Printed Circuit (FPC), or other ordinary circuit board, which is not limited herein. The circuit board may be disposed on a side of the substrate away from the luminescent unit by hot pressing.

The chip part as mentioned above may include a chip, and the chip type is not limited. For example, the chip may be an Advanced RISC Machines (ARM) chip, a Digital Signal Processing (DSP) chip or a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) chip, and so forth. The chip may be disposed on a side of the bonding part away from the substrate by hot pressing.

While protecting the bonding part, the protection part may also be capable of protecting the chip part and the circuit board, thus providing strong support and protection. If the display panel is applied in a display apparatus with a touching function, the protection part is capable of providing enough support when a user touches and presses, so as to avoid damaging to the bonding area, the chip part and the circuit board, thus improving the product quality and prolonging the service life. If the display panel is applied in a display apparatus with a folding function, due to displacement of the display panel may happen during folding or curling, the protection part is capable of avoiding a direct collision between the bending part of the bending area and a middle frame carrying the display panel, thereby improving the reliability of the display apparatus.

In order to further improve the support strength, a material of the protection part may include a metal or a metal alloy. For example, the material of the protection part may be stainless steel, iron and so forth.

Optionally, as referred toFIG.4the display panel further includes the chip part23and the circuit board24, the chip part23is disposed on a side of the bonding part22away from the substrate10, and the circuit board24is disposed on a side of the substrate10away from the luminescent unit11; the protection part31includes a first surface311and a second surface312opposite to each other, the first surface311is farther from the substrate10compared with the second surface312; wherein the first surface311is substantially parallel to the substrate10, and the second surface312is not in contact with at least one of the bonding part22, the chip part23and the circuit board24.

That the first surface as mentioned above is substantially parallel to the substrate includes: the first surface is parallel to the substrate; or, when the first surface is not parallel to the substrate, an angle value between the first surface and the substrate is an average value of a specific value within an acceptable deviation range, wherein the acceptable deviation range is determined by a measurement considered and being discussed by a person skilled in the art and an error (i.e. the limitation of a measurement system) associated with a measurement of a specific quantity.

That the second surface as mentioned above is not in contact with at least one of the bonding part, the chip part and the circuit board includes: the second surface is not in contact with any one of the bonding part, the chip part and the circuit board, respectively; or, the second surface is not in contact with any two of the bonding part, the chip part and the circuit board, respectively; or, the second surface is not in contact with the bonding part, the chip part and the circuit board, respectively. InFIG.4, that the second surface312is not in contact with the bonding part22, the chip part23, and the circuit board24respectively is taken as an example to be painted.

The second surface of the protection part is not in contact with at least one of the bonding part, the chip part and the circuit board, respectively, so there may be a space between the second surface and at least one of the bonding part, the chip part and the circuit board, respectively, thereby greatly reducing the friction generated between the protection part and the bonding part, the chip part and the circuit board, respectively, and further protecting the bonding part, the chip part and the circuit board.

Generally, the bonding part may include a plurality of wirings and other structures, therefore, a distance from the bonding part to the substrate along a direction perpendicular to the substrate is not uniform. Similarly, a distance from the chip part to the substrate along a direction perpendicular to the substrate is not uniform, and a distance from the circuit board to the substrate along a direction perpendicular to the substrate is not uniform. In order to prevent the protection part from squeezing the bonding part, the chip part and the circuit board, optionally, as referred toFIG.4, a thickness H of the protection part31along a direction perpendicular to the substrate is uniform, and a distance H0from the second surface312to the substrate10is greater than a first distance. A value of the first distance is a maximum value of three distances, which are a maximum distance H1from the bonding part22to the substrate10along a direction perpendicular to the substrate, a maximum distance H2from the chip part23to the substrate10along a direction perpendicular to the substrate, and a maximum distance H3from the circuit board24to the substrate10along a direction perpendicular to the substrate.

As referred toFIG.4, the thickness H of the protection part31as mentioned above along the direction perpendicular to the substrate is uniform, and the first surface311is substantially parallel to the substrate10, therefore, the second surface312of the protection part31may be substantially parallel to the first surface311. The difficulty of producing the protection part is low and it is easy to implement.

Optionally, as referred toFIG.5, a thickness of the protection part31along a direction perpendicular to the substrate is not uniform; specific thicknesses of parts in the protection part corresponding to the bonding part, the chip part and the circuit board, respectively, are not limited, as long as it is capable to be guaranteed that the bonding part, the chip part and the circuit board are not squeezed by the protection part. For example, if the distance from the bonding part to the substrate along the direction perpendicular to the substrate is less than the distance from the circuit board to the substrate along the direction perpendicular to the substrate, as shown inFIG.5, a thickness h1of a part in the protection part31corresponding to the bonding part22may be greater than a thickness h3of a part in the protection part31corresponding to the circuit board24, which may increase a part of a thickness of the protection part in an existing design space, to further improve the support of the protection part. InFIG.5, that the thickness h0of the part in the protection part31corresponding to the bonding part22, the thickness h2of the part in the protection part31corresponding to the chip part23and the thickness h3of the part in the protection part31corresponding to the circuit board24are decreasing in turn is taken as an example to be painted.

In order to better fix the protection part, optionally, the display panel further includes a plurality of studs30as shown inFIG.6, and the studs are fixed on a side of the substrate away from the luminescent unit. CombiningFIG.7andFIG.8, the protection part31includes a plurality of fastening threads32, and the studs pass through the fastening threads to obtain the structural diagram shown inFIG.9; the protection part is fixed on a side of the substrate away from the luminescent unit by the studs.

The specific location and quantity of the plurality of the studs as mentioned above are not limited. In order to protect the bonding part, the chip part and the circuit board, as referred toFIG.6, the plurality of the studs30may be disposed as avoiding the bonding part, the chip part and the circuit board.FIG.6is painted with five studs being taken as an example.FIG.4andFIG.5may be two cross-sectional diagrams along the AB direction inFIG.6.FIG.7andFIG.8are painted with five fastening threads being taken as an example.FIG.7andFIG.8are structural diagrams of both sides of the protection part31, respectively.

Optionally, a plurality of the studs are divided into two groups, one group is disposed in a peripheral area of the bonding part, and the other group is disposed on a side of the circuit board away from the bonding part. As referred toFIG.6, a stud30is disposed on the left, middle, and right of the bonding part22, respectively, and at a same time, two studs30are disposed on a side of the circuit board24away from the bonding part22to ensure the stable support of the protection part.

Optionally, as referred toFIG.2toFIG.6, the display panel further includes a supporting sheet25, the supporting sheet25adheres to a side of the substrate10away from the luminescent unit11, and the bonding part22, the chip part23and the circuit board24are disposed on a side of the supporting sheet25away from the substrate10.

A material of the supporting sheet as mentioned above is not limited. For example, the supporting sheet may be a steel sheet with strong support. As referred toFIG.2toFIG.5, the supporting sheet25may adhere to the substrate10through a first adhesive layer26, the first adhesive layer may be made of a flexible glue with smaller hardness. In order to facilitate producing the bonding part, the chip part and the circuit board afterward, the display panel may further include a second adhesive layer27and an adhesive part28. The second adhesive layer27is disposed on a side of the supporting sheet25away from the substrate10and adhered to the supporting sheet25. A hardness of the second adhesive layer is greater than a hardness of the first adhesive layer. The adhesive part28is disposed on a side of the second adhesive layer27away from the supporting sheet25, and is corresponded to the position of the bonding part22, and is configured for adhering the bonding part22. As referred toFIG.4andFIG.5, the chip part23may be disposed on a side of the bonding part22away from the supporting sheet25by hot pressing. The circuit board24may be disposed on a side of the second adhesive layer27away from the supporting sheet25by hot pressing. The chip part23and the circuit board24is electrically connected to the bonding part22, respectively. As referred toFIG.6, a plurality of the studs30may be bonded on the supporting sheet25by a hot-melting-adhesive process.

As referred toFIG.6, the display panel may further include a connector33, the connector33is electrically connected to the circuit board24, the circuit board may be connected to a front main board through the connector to obtain data signals and so forth, the front main board may include a TCON board and so forth.

A display apparatus is provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure, which includes the display panel as mentioned above. The display apparatus may be a display apparatus provided with a touching function, or, it may be a display apparatus provided with a folding or curling function, or, it may be a display apparatus provided with both a touching function and folding function, which is not limited herein. The display apparatus may be an Organic Light-Emitting Diode (OLED) display apparatus, it may also be a Micro LED micro-display apparatus or a Mini LED micro-display apparatus, and any product or component with a displaying function including the display apparatus such as televisions, digital cameras, mobile phones, tablets and so forth.

Optionally, as referred toFIG.10, the display apparatus further includes a middle frame41, and the middle frame41is disposed on a side of the protection part31of the display panel away from the substrate10of the display panel. The middle frame41includes an inner wall411and a side wall412connected to each other, and the inner wall411is substantially parallel to and not in contact with the first surface311of the protection part31, and the display panel is configured for sliding relative to the side wall412in a space limited by the middle frame.

That the inner wall as mentioned above is substantially parallel to the first surface of the protection part includes: the inner wall is parallel to the first surface of the protection part; or, when the first surface of the protection part is not parallel to the inner wall, an angle value between the first surface and the inner wall is an average value of a specific value within an acceptable deviation range, wherein the acceptable deviation range is determined by a measurement considered and being discussed by a person skilled in the art and an error (i.e. the limitation of a measurement system) associated with a measurement of a specific quantity.

A gap may be disposed between the inner wall of the middle frame as mentioned above and the first surface of the protection part, to facilitate the sliding of the display panel. The gap may be filled with gas, and the gas may be air, or it may also be hydrogen, oxygen, and so forth, which is not limited herein. A thickness of the gap along a direction perpendicular to the first surface is not limited. For example, the thickness of the gap along the direction perpendicular to the first surface may be 0.1 mm.

It should be noted that if the protection part includes a first protection part, then there is no need for the middle frame as mentioned above to avoid the chip part and the circuit board, thereby further improving the support protection of the middle frame.

During a process of that the display panel is folded or curled, as referred toFIG.10, the display panel may slide along the CD direction relative to the side wall412in a space limited by the middle frame41, the protection part31of the display panel may be capable of avoiding a direct collision between the bending part21of the bending area and the side wall412of the middle frame41, thus improving the reliability of the display apparatus.

Certainly, as referred toFIG.10, the display apparatus may further include a whole machine front frame42, a whole machine housing43, and other structures, for better packaged.

Many details are discussed in the specification provided herein. However, it should be understood that the embodiments of the disclosure can be implemented without these specific details. In some examples, the well-known methods, structures, and technologies are not shown in detail so as to avoid an unclear understanding of the description.

Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are merely intended to explain the technical solutions of the present disclosure, and not to limit them. Although the present disclosure is explained in detail by referring to the above embodiments, a person skilled in the art should understand that he can still modify the technical solutions set forth by the above embodiments, or make equivalent substitutions to part of the technical features of them. However, those modifications or substitutions do not make the essence of the corresponding technical solutions depart from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present disclosure.