Patent ID: 12260787

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Features and principles of the present disclosure will be described in detail hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, and the embodiments cited are used only to explain the present disclosure, rather than to limit the scope of protection of the present disclosure.

As shown inFIG.1-FIG.13, some embodiments of the present disclosure provide a display device, the display device includes a flexible support, the flexible support is attached to a back side of a flexible display panel with a bendable region, the flexible support includes a flexible support body, and a first part1of the flexible support body corresponding to the bendable region is provided with a concave structure.

The flexible support may be attached to the back side of the flexible display panel, that is, on another surface opposite to a surface for image display, which enhances impact resistance and bending resistance of the flexible display panel. In some embodiments, the flexible support includes a flexible support body. Optionally, the flexible support may also include a film structure for attaching the flexible support body to a display substrate. According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the first part1of the flexible support body is corresponding to the bendable region of the flexible display panel, and a concave structure is arranged on the first part1, so that a bending stress produced by the flexible display panel during bending may be distributed along a thickness variation boundary of every concave structure, rather than concentrated near a bending axis. The concave structure may disperse stress, avoid a large local deformation caused by bending of long time due to a stress concentration, which may lead to a denaturation of polymer materials in the display, and avoid an occurrence of “creases” and “white lines” etc. in the bendable region. The “bending axis” described above represents an axis around which the flexible display panel is bent. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the bending axis extends along a Y axis shown inFIG.1.

Specific structural forms of the concave structure may be varied, provided that an effect of dispersing stress is realized. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the first part1includes a first surface deviating from the flexible display panel and a second surface opposite to the first surface, the second surface is to be attached with the flexible display panel.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the concave structure may include a plurality of grooves or through holes recessed in a direction from the first surface to the second surface. In other words, a depth of the concave structure may be set to be less than a thickness of the flexible support body. And the concave structure may be opened on the first surface without penetrating the flexible support body in a thickness direction. In other embodiments, a depth of the concave structure may be set to be equal to a thickness of the flexible support body, that is, a through-hole structure is formed through the flexible support body in the thickness direction.

When the flexible support is connected to the flexible display panel, the second surface is connected to the back side of the flexible display panel (a surface opposite to a display surface). In some embodiments, for example, when a separate flexible support is attached to a flexible display panel, the second surface may be provided with a adhesive layer, that is, the flexible support body is attached to the flexible display panel through the adhesive layer. In other embodiments, the flexible support may also be pre-attached to the flexible display panel by other processes before the flexible display panel is manufactured.

When the concave structure includes a plurality of the grooves, shapes and distributions of the grooves may be varied. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the plurality of grooves is a plurality of strip grooves arranged side by side.

In some embodiments, the first part is a rectangular structure. Each of the plurality of strip grooves extends along a width or length direction of the first part1.FIG.1shows a schematic diagram of a structure of each of the plurality of strip grooves extends along a width direction of the first part1(Y direction inFIG.1); andFIG.2shows a schematic diagram of a structure of each of the plurality of strip grooves extends along a length direction of the first part1(X direction inFIG.2).

As shown inFIG.1, the flexible display panel may be bent along the bending axis, wherein an extension direction of the bending axis is parallel to a Y direction inFIG.1. In some embodiments, the strip grooves may be set to extend along the Y direction, i.e., an extension direction of each strip groove is parallel to the bending axis of the flexible display panel. Generally speaking, the concave structure shown inFIG.1is suitable for a flexible support body with a large thickness. The flexible support body in the flexible support is to provide the display substrate with enhanced impact resistance and bending resistance. In other words, the flexible support body itself is not easy to be bent and has a high strength. In view of this situation, a plurality of strip grooves parallel to the direction of the bending axis are arranged on the flexible support body, which makes the first part1of the flexible support body has a good strength and a good bending performance at the same time.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, a cross section of each of the plurality of strip grooves11perpendicular to a length extension direction is V-shape, trapezoidal or U-shape, as shown inFIG.8-FIG.10.

When the cross section of each of the plurality of strip grooves11is trapezoidal, an opening area of each of the plurality of strip grooves11is larger than a bottom area of each of the plurality of strip grooves11, as shown inFIG.10. Similarly, for a V-shaped or U-shaped strip groove, an opening area is larger than a bottom area. When the cross section of the strip groove is rectangular, an opening area is equal to a bottom area.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, each of the plurality of strip grooves11is at least partially filled with a buffer material3. The buffer material3plays a role in buffer and partial rebound. When flexible support is applied to the flexible display panel, impact resistance of flexible display panel is improved, and the flexible display panel may be restored from bending state to plane state more easily.

Specific arrangement positions and shapes of the buffer material3may be varied. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, each of the plurality of strip grooves11includes a first side wall and a second side wall, and the buffer material3may be arranged on the first side wall or the second side wall. There is a gap between the buffer material3and the second side wall or the first side wall.

Or, the first side wall and the second side wall are both provided with the buffer material3, and there is a gap between the buffer material3arranged on the first side wall and the buffer material3arranged on the second side wall, as shown inFIG.11andFIG.12.FIG.11andFIG.12are schematic diagrams illustrating a structure of the buffer material3arranged in a groove11with a trapezoidal cross section. But specific arrangement positions and shapes of the buffer material3are not limited to the above.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the buffer material3may be an elastic material or a foamed porous material, but is not limited to the above.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, when the concave structure includes a plurality of through holes12, a shape of the through holes12may be regular or irregular, such as strip, rhombus, hexagon, circular and round end and square hole, but not limited to the above.FIG.3is a schematic diagram illustrating a structure of a flexible support with a rhombus through hole12.FIG.4is a schematic diagram illustrating a structure of a flexible support with a hexagon through hole12.FIG.5is a schematic diagram illustrating a structure of a flexible support with a circular through hole12.FIG.6is a schematic diagram illustrating a structure of a flexible support with a through hole12with a shape of round end and square hole.

In some embodiments, the through holes12are evenly distributed on the first part1.

The quantity and size of the through hole12may be determined according to actual needs.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, a structure of through-hole distributed continuously may be arranged and a length direction of the structure extends along a direction perpendicular to the direction of the bending axis of the flexible display panel, i.e., along the X-axis direction as shown inFIG.2. As shown inFIG.2, a plurality of strip concave structures is arranged on the first part1of the flexible support body, each strip concave structure runs through the flexible support body in a direction perpendicular to the thickness direction of the flexible display panel. Therefore, these strip concave structures may also be called “through holes”, and their length extension directions (or a direction of maximum size) are parallel to the flexible display panels. Generally speaking, the embodiment shown inFIG.2is suitable for a flexible support body with a small thickness. When the thickness of the flexible support body is small, the flexible support has a good bending performance, but can not provide enough structural strength to avoid a bending stress concentrating in a local bendable region. In order to avoid the stress concentration, a strip concave structure (strip through holes distributed continuously) extending along a direction perpendicular to the direction of the bending axis may be arranged. The strip concave structure makes the bending stress distribute along a thickness variation boundary of every strip through hole, so that the stress in the bending area may be dispersed effectively.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the flexible support also includes a second part2at least connected partially to an unbendable region of the flexible display panel.

FIG.14is a schematic diagram illustrating a state in which a first part1of a flexible support is attached to a bendable region of a flexible substrate, and a second part2of a flexible support is attached to an unbendable region of a flexible display panel400.

FIG.15is a schematic diagram illustrating a state in which a first part1of a flexible support is attached to a bendable region of a flexible substrate, and a second part2of a flexible support is attached to an unbendable region of a flexible display panel400.

The second part2enhances impact resistance of the unbendable region of the flexible display panel400, and a size of the second part2may be adjusted according to actual needs.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, in order to satisfy the assembling requirements (requirements of assembling the flexible display panel400and a display device shell, wherein a flexible support and the shell shall be matched so as to fix a display substrate), an orthographic projection of the flexible support body on the plane in which the flexible display panel is located exceeds the coverage range of the flexible display panel at least on one side of the orthographic projection of the flexible support body. In other words, a sum of an area of the first part1and an area of the second part2may be larger than an area of the flexible display panel400. Of course, in other scenarios, the sum of the area of the first part1and the area of the second part2may be set equal to or less than the area of flexible display panel400.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the flexible support body100is a metal film layer, which plays a role in enhancing the strength of the flexible display panel400.

It should be noted that, the flexible support body100may be made of other materials, but other materials need to have a certain flexibility and strength, may be used for supporting, and may enhance impact resistance and bending resistance of the flexible display panel.

The first part1of the flexible support body100is to strengthen the protection and disperse stress of the bendable region of the flexible display panel400, so various grooves or through holes are arranged on the first part1; while the second part2of the flexible support body100is only to enhance the strength of the flexible display panel400, so there is no need to set any concave structure on the second part2.

As shown inFIG.7, in some embodiments of the present disclosure, the flexible support includes a flexible support body100, the flexible support body100includes a third surface and a fourth surface arranged on an opposite side of the third surface, and the fourth surface of the flexible support body100is provided with a adhesive layer200and a detached film layer300successively.

It should be noted that, the third surface and fourth surface of the flexible support body100are one surface of the whole flexible support body100respectively. The first surface and the second surface are one surface of the first part1respectively. The flexible support body100includes the first part1. Therefore, the third surface and the first surface are at a same plane, the fourth surface and the second surface of the first part1are at a same plane, and in an embodiment in which the flexible support body100includes the first part1only, the third surface and the first surface are the same structure, and the fourth surface and the second surface are the same structure. In an embodiment in which the flexible support body100includes the first part1and the second part2, the range of the third surface is larger than that of the first surface, and the range of the fourth surface is larger than that of the second surface.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the adhesive layer200is a pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) layer, and PSA is highly sensitive to pressure, which helps to avoid an occurrence of degumming, and ensures the stability of the connection between the flexible support body100and the flexible display panel400.

When the flexible support is applied to the flexible display panel400, the detached film layer300is removed, and then the flexible support is overlaid on the flexible display panel400through the adhesive layer200.FIG.14andFIG.15are schematic diagrams illustrating the flexible support body100which is attached to the flexible display panel400through the adhesive layer200. The flexible support body100is attached to the flexible display panel400through adhering, and the flexible support body100is fully adhered to the flexible display panel400, which effectively ensures impact resistance and bending resistance of the flexible display panel400.

The above embodiment in which the adhesive layer200and the detached film layer300are provided is suitable for the case where a user attaches the flexible support to the flexible display panel separately. In other embodiments, for example, a flexible support may be pre-attached to a flexible display panel by any suitable process before the flexible display panel is manufactured, and there may also be no adhesive layer200and detached film layer300arranged on the flexible support.

An overall thickness of the flexible support and a thickness of the flexible support body100may be set according to actual needs. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the overall thickness of the flexible support is 15 um-150 um, and the thickness of the flexible support body100is 15 um-150 um. Furthermore, the thickness of flexible support may be 50 um-250 um. The thickness of flexible support body may be 30-50 um.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the flexible display panel in the display device includes a body, the body includes a bendable region and an unbendable region, and a back side of the body is provided with the flexible support. The unbendable region may be located on either or both sides of the bendable region.

The flexible support includes a flexible support body, the flexible support body includes at least a first part. The first part is attached to the bendable region correspondingly, and enhances impact resistance and bending resistance of the flexible display panel, especially provides supporting for the bendable region, so as to avoid an occurrence of “creases” and “white lines” etc. due to a concentration of bending stress.

The first part includes a first surface and a second surface arranged on an opposite side of the first surface, and a plurality of grooves or through holes recessed in a direction from the first surface to the second surface. The second surface is attached to the back side of the flexible display panel (a surface opposite to a display surface).

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the flexible display panel is an OLED flexible display panel, and the flexible support is arranged on the back side (non-light-emitting surface) of the flexible display panel, but is not limited to the above.

What is described in the foregoing are optional embodiments of the present disclosure, it should be noted that, for those skilled in the art, any improvement and modification without departing from the principle of the present disclosure are within the protection scope of the present disclosure.