Patent ID: 12193315

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure will be described hereinafter in conjunction with the embodiments and the drawings. Identical or similar reference numbers in the drawings represent an identical or similar element or elements having an identical or similar function. The following embodiments are for illustrative purposes only, but shall not be used to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

In the embodiments of the present disclosure, it should be appreciated that, such words as “longitudinal”, “lateral”, “length”, “width”, “thickness”, “on/above”, “under/below”, “front”, “back”, “left”, “right”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, “top”, “bottom”, “inside” and “outside” may be used to indicate directions or positions as viewed in the drawings, and they are merely used to facilitate the description in the present disclosure, rather than to indicate or imply that a device or member must be arranged or operated at a specific position.

Unless otherwise specified, such words as “arrange”, “connect”, “couple” and “fix” may have a general meaning, e.g., the word “connect” may refer to fixed connection, removable connection or integral connection, or mechanical or electrical connection, or direct connection or indirect connection via an intermediate component, or communication between two components, or an interaction relationship between two components. The meanings of these words may be understood by a person skilled in the art in accordance with the practical applications.

In the related art, an OLED device is susceptible to moisture and oxygen, and thereby pixels are damaged and its service life is shortened. Through an encapsulation technique, it is able to protect the OLED device from moisture and oxygen. After a screen is bent to be attached onto a surface of a glass cover plate, such film layers as a polarizer, a display film and a back film are harder to be deformed due to tension and compression as compared with adhesive layers therebetween. In addition, these film layers are bent at different bending radiuses. Hence, when the polarizer, the display film and the back film are bent, misplacement may occur. At this time, a gap is formed between the outermost back film and the glass cover plate, and thereby an overhanging structure is formed. When an edge of the screen is pressed, it is easily bent to generate cracks. The cracks at the film layers extend to the display area, and thereby an encapsulation layer is damaged.

The present disclosure provides in some embodiments a flexible display panel10, a method for forming the flexible display panel10and an adhesive application device for the method, which will be described hereinafter in conjunction withFIGS.1to21.

As shown inFIGS.1to3, the flexible display panel10in the embodiments of the present disclosure includes a cover plate layer1and a screen film layer2. The screen film layer2includes a plurality of film layers laminated one on another at one side of the cover plate layer1. An adhesive4is filled into a gap between an edge of an outermost film layer (e.g., a heat dissipation layer24inFIGS.1to3) of the screen film layer2relative to the cover plate layer and the cover plate layer1.

Generally, there is the gap between the edge of the outermost film layer of the screen film layer2and the cover plate layer1, and the adhesive4is filled into the gap so as to provide a support. In this way, even when the flexible display panel10is bent, it is less likely to generate the cracks at an edge of the screen film layer2, and thereby it is able to prevent the encapsulation layer from being damaged.

According to the flexible display panel10in the embodiments of the present disclosure, the edge of the screen film layer2is supported by the adhesive4, so it is able to avoid the formation of the overhanging structure between the edge of the screen film layer2(especially the edge of the outermost film layer of the screen film layer2) and the cover plate layer1, and reinforce the connection between film layers of the flexible display panel10, thereby to reduce the probability of cracks generated when bending the edge of the screen.

As shown inFIGS.1to3, the screen film layer comprises a first bending portion and a first non-bending portion, the cover plate layer comprises a second bending portion and a second non-bending portion, and the edge of the screen film layer2and an edge of the cover plate layer1are arranged adjacent to the first bending portion of the screen film layer2and the second bending portion of the cover plate layer1respectively. It should be appreciated that, in the case that the screen film layer includes the plurality of film layers, the edge of the screen film layer refer to edges of the plurality of film layers including the edge of the outermost film layer of the screen film layer relative to the cover plate layer.

As shown inFIGS.1to3, projections of at least two film layers of the plurality of film layers onto the cover plate layer1partially overlap each other. It should be appreciated that projections of at least two film layers onto the second bending portion of the cover plate layer1refer to projections of at least two film layers onto the second bending portion of the cover plate layer1along a normal direction of the second bending portion.

As shown inFIG.1, the screen film layer2includes a polarizer21, a display film22, a back film23and a heat dissipation layer24laminated one on another in a direction away from the cover plate layer1, and the adhesive4covers each of edges of the polarizer21, the display film22, the back film23and the heat dissipation layer24.

As shown inFIGS.1to3, the polarizer21is arranged adjacent to the cover plate layer1, the back film23is arranged away from the cover plate layer1, the display film22is arranged between the polarizer21and the back film23, and the heat dissipation layer24is arranged at a side of the back film23away from the cover plate layer1.

Based on the above, it is able to support, through the adhesive4, the edges of the screen film layer2and the heat dissipation layer24in a better manner, and improve the connection between the cover plate layer1and the screen film layer2and between the screen film layer2and the heat dissipation layer24.

As shown inFIG.2, the screen film layer2includes a polarizer21, a display film22and a back film23laminated one on another in a direction away from the cover plate layer1, and the adhesive4is arranged between the back film23and the cover plate layer1and covers each of edges of the polarizer21and the display film22.

Based on the above, it is able to support, through the adhesive4, the edges of the polarizer21and the display film22in a better manner, and improve the connection between the cover plate layer1and the polarizer21and between the polarizer21and the display film22.

As shown inFIG.3, the screen film layer2includes a polarizer21, a display film22, a back film23and a heat dissipation layer24laminated one on another in a direction away from the cover plate layer1, and the adhesive4is arranged between the heat dissipation layer24and the cover plate layer1and covers each of edges of the polarizer21, the display film22and the back film23.

Based on the above, it is able to support, through the adhesive4, the edges of the polarizer21, the display film22and the back film23in a better manner, and improve the connection between the cover plate layer1and the polarizer21, between the polarizer21and the display film22, and between the display film22and the back film23.

As shown inFIG.4, adhesive layers are arranged between the cover plate layer1and the polarizer21, between the polarizer21and the display film22, and between the display film22and the back film23, so as to adhere the adjacent layers. The adhesive layer between the cover plate layer1and the polarizer21is an Optically Clear Adhesive (OCA)25, and the adhesive layer between the polarizer21and the display film22and between the display film22and the back film23is a Pressure Sensitive Adhesive (PSA)26.

In a possible embodiment of the present disclosure, the OCA25has a thickness of 140 μm to 160 μm, and the PSA26has a thickness of 15 μm to 20 μm.

The present disclosure further provides a method for a forming flexible display panel10. As shown inFIGS.1to4, the flexible display panel10includes a cover plate layer1and a screen film layer2, and the screen film layer2includes a plurality of film layers. As shown inFIG.5, the method includes the following steps, i.e., S1and S2.

S1, attaching the plurality of film layers sequentially onto one side of the cover plate layer.

S2, applying an adhesive into a gap between an edge of an outermost film layer of the screen film layer relative to the cover plate layer and the cover plate layer.

It should be appreciated that a molding process for the flexible display panel may be a general term of the method for forming the flexible display panel.

In some embodiments, subsequent to applying the adhesive into the gap between the edge of the outermost film layer of the screen film layer relative to the cover plate layer and the cover plate layer, the method further includes: bending the cover plate layer and the screen film layer. The bent screen film layer includes a first bending portion and a first non-bending portion, the bent cover plate layer includes a second bending portion and a second non-bending portion, and an edge of the screen film layer and an edge of the cover plate layer are arranged adjacent to the first bending portion of the screen film layer and the second bending portion of the cover plate layer respectively.

In some embodiments, projections of at least two film layers of the plurality of film layers onto the cover plate layer partially overlap each other.

As shown inFIGS.1to4, the screen film layer2includes a polarizer21, a display film22, a back film23and a heat dissipation layer24laminated one on another in a direction away from the cover plate layer. The applying the adhesive into the gap between the edge of the outermost film layer of the screen film layer relative to the cover plate layer1and the cover plate layer includes: applying the adhesive into a gap between an edge of the heat dissipation layer and the cover plate layer in such a manner that the adhesive covers each of edges of the polarizer, the display film, the back film and the heat dissipation layer.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the screen film layer2includes a polarizer21, a display film22and a back film23laminated one on another in a direction away from the cover plate layer1. The applying the adhesive into the gap between the edge of the outermost film layer of the screen film layer2relative to the cover plate layer1and the cover plate layer1includes: applying the adhesive into a gap between an edge of the back film23and the cover plate layer1in such a manner that the adhesive covers each of edges of the polarizer and the display film. The screen film layer further includes a heat dissipation layer24, and the method further includes attaching the heat dissipation layer24onto a side of the back film23away from the cover plate layer.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the screen film layer2includes a polarizer21, a display film22and a back film23laminated one on another in a direction away from the cover plate layer. The applying the adhesive into the gap between the edge of the outermost film layer of the screen film layer2relative to the cover plate layer1and the cover plate layer1includes: applying the adhesive into a gap between an edge of the back film and the cover plate layer in such a manner that the adhesive covers an edge of the screen film layer, The screen film layer further includes a heat dissipation layer24, and the method further includes attaching the heat dissipation layer onto a side of the back film away from the cover plate layer1in such a manner that the adhesive4is arranged between the heat dissipation layer24and the cover plate layer1.

In other words, the adhesive is applied prior to the attachment of the polarizer, the display film and the back film and subsequent to the attachment of the heat dissipation layer, or subsequent to the attachment of the heat dissipation layer, at each of the edges of the polarizer, the display film, the back film and the heat dissipation layer, or merely at each of the edges of the polarizer, the display film and the back film, or merely at each of the edges of the polarizer and the display film.

According to the method in the embodiments of the present disclosure, the flexible display panel is provided with the adhesive at the edge, and when the resultant flexible display panel is bent, it is able to avoid the occurrence of cracks at the edge, thereby to prevent an encapsulation layer from being damaged. The method is used to obtain the above-mentioned flexible display panel.

After the application of the adhesive, the method further includes S3.

S3, irradiating the adhesive with ultraviolet.

In this way, it is able to cure the adhesive and increase a support capability of the adhesive, thereby to support and protect the edge of the flexible display panel and increase an adhesion strength between the film layers.

To be specific, as shown inFIG.6, the method includes the following steps, i.e., S21, S22and S23.

S21, attaching the polarizer, the display film, the back film and the heat dissipation layer sequentially onto the cover plate layer.

S22, applying the adhesive into the gap between the edge of the heat dissipation layer and the cover plate layer in such a manner that the adhesive covers each of the edges of the polarizer, the display film, the back film and the heat dissipation layer.

S23, irradiating the adhesive with ultraviolet.

In this way, it is able to obtain the flexible display panel inFIG.1.

As shown inFIG.7, the method includes the following steps, i.e., S31, S32, S33and S34.

S31, attaching the polarizer, the display film and the back film sequentially onto the cover plate layer.

S32, applying the adhesive into the gap between the edge of the back film and the cover plate layer in such a manner that the adhesive covers each of the edges of the polarizer and the display film.

S33, attaching the heat dissipation layer onto a side of the back film away from the cover plate layer.

S34, irradiating the adhesive with ultraviolet.

In this way, it is able to obtain the flexible display panel inFIG.2.

As shown inFIG.8, the method includes the following steps, i.e., S41, S42, S43and S44.

S41, attaching the polarizer, the display film and the back film sequentially onto the cover plate layer.

S42, applying the adhesive into the gap between the edge of the back film and the cover plate layer in such a manner that the adhesive covers each of the edges of the polarizer, the display film and the display film.

S43, attaching the heat dissipation layer onto a side of the back film away from the cover plate layer in such manner that the adhesive is arranged between the heat dissipation layer and the cover plate layer.

S44, irradiating the adhesive with ultraviolet.

In this way, it is able to obtain the flexible display panel inFIG.3.

The present disclosure further provides in some embodiments an adhesive application device for a method for forming a flexible display panel10. As shown inFIGS.1to4, the flexible display panel10includes a cover plate layer1and a screen film layer2, and the screen film layer2includes a plurality of film layers laminated one on another at one side of the cover plate layer. As shown inFIGS.9to14, the adhesive application device includes a position capturing unit201and an adhesive application mechanism202. The position capturing unit201is configured to obtain position information about an edge of an outermost film layer of the screen film layer2relative to the cover plate layer1and directly or indirectly transmit the position information to the adhesive application mechanism202. The adhesive application mechanism202is configured to apply an adhesive into a gap between the edge of the outermost film layer of the screen film layer relative to the cover plate layer and the cover plate layer.

To be specific, the adhesive application mechanism202includes a nozzle2021for applying the adhesive to the edge. The nozzle2021of the adhesive application mechanism202directly moves to the edge of the screen film layer2, so as to directly apply the adhesive to the edge. In this way, it is able to solve the problem that it is difficult to apply the adhesive to the edge when a conventional adhesive application mechanism moves in a small space defined by the cover plate layer1.

According to the adhesive application device in the embodiments of the present disclosure, the position information about the edge of an outermost film layer of the screen film layer2relative to the cover plate layer1is obtained by the position capturing unit201, and then the adhesive is applied to the edge by the adhesive application mechanism202in accordance with the position information. As a result, it is able to obtain the flexible display panel10having the adhesive4at the edge, and prevent the occurrence of cracks at the edge when the resultant flexible display panel10is bent, thereby to prevent an encapsulation layer from being damaged.

The adhesive application device in the embodiments of the present disclosure is used to implement the above-mentioned method, so as to obtain the above-mentioned flexible display panel10. In addition, through obtaining the position information about the edge of the outermost film layer of the screen film layer2relative to the cover plate layer1by the position capturing unit201, it is able to simplify an adhesive application process.

As shown inFIGS.9and10, when a bending angle at a bending portion of the flexible display panel10is smaller than or equal to 90°, the position capturing unit201is directly aligned with the edge of the screen film layer2to capture the position information about the edge of the screen film layer.

In other words, when the bending angle at the bending portion of the flexible display panel10is smaller than or equal to 90° (i.e., a flexible screen is arranged horizontally or curved at a small angle), the edge of the screen film layer2is easily captured by the position capturing unit201directly, so the adhesive is applied in a simple manner.

For the flexible display panel10having the bending angle smaller than or equal to 90° at the bending portion, during the application of the adhesive, an opening of the cover plate layer1faces upward, and the position capturing unit201is directly arranged above the edge of the screen film layer2to capture the position information about the edge of the outermost film layer of the screen film layer2relative to the cover plate layer1. A represents an optical path. The adhesive application mechanism202has a structure as shown inFIGS.9to10to directly apply the adhesive to the edge of the screen film layer2in a vertical direction, or has a structure as shown inFIGS.18and20to apply the adhesive to the edge of the screen film layer in a horizontal direction.

As shown inFIGS.11and12, when the bending angle at the bending portion of the flexible display panel10is 180°, the position capturing unit201is configured to capture the position information about the edge of the outermost film layer of the screen film layer2relative to the cover plate layer1through a reflector203.

In other words, when the bending angle at the bending portion of the flexible display panel10is 180°, the edge of the screen film layer2is easily shielded by ink11on the cover plate layer1or a planar portion of the cover plate layer1, so it is difficult for the position capturing unit201to directly capture the edge of the screen film layer2. At this time, it is necessary to capture the edge of the screen film layer2through the reflector203.

For the flexible display panel10having the bending angle of 180° at the bending portion, during the application of the adhesive, the opening of the cover plate layer1faces downward, and the position capturing unit201captures the position information about the edge of the outermost film layer of the screen film layer2relative to the cover plate layer1through the reflector203. The position capturing unit201on the right is configured to capture a left edge of the screen film layer2, and the position capturing unit201on the left is configured to capture a right edge of the screen film layer2. A represents an optical path. The adhesive application mechanism202has a structure as shown inFIGS.11and12to apply the adhesive to the edge of the screen film layer2in the horizontal direction, or has a structure as shown inFIGS.19and21to directly apply the adhesive to the edge of the screen film layer in the vertical direction.

As shown inFIGS.13and14, when the bending angle at the bending portion of the flexible display panel10is greater than 90° and smaller than 180°, the position capturing unit201is directly aligned with the edge of the screen film layer2to capture the position information about the edge of the outermost film layer of the screen film layer2relative to the cover plate layer1, or the position capturing unit201is configured to capture the position information about the edge of the outermost film layer of the screen film layer2relative to the cover plate layer1through the reflector203.

To be specific, when the bending angle at the bending portion approximates to 90°, the position capturing unit201is directly aligned with the edge of the screen film layer2to capture the position information about the edge of the outermost film layer of the screen film layer2relative to the cover plate layer1. The position capturing units201are arranged in such a manner that the position capturing unit201on the right captures the left edge of the screen film layer2and the position capturing unit201on the left captures the right edge of the screen film layer2. When the bending angle at the bending portion approximates to 180°, the position capturing unit201captures the position information about the edge of the outermost film layer of the screen film layer2relative to the cover plate layer1through the reflector203. Identically, the position capturing unit201on the right captures the left edge of the screen film layer2, and the position capturing unit201on the left captures the right edge of the screen film layer2.

For the flexible display panel10having the bending angle greater than 90° and smaller than 180° at the bending portion (i.e., the flexible display panel10is bent at a large angle), during the application of the adhesive, the opening of the cover plate layer1faces upward, and the position capturing unit201captures the position information about the edge of the outermost film layer of the screen film layer2relative to the cover plate layer1through the reflector203(as shown inFIG.13), or the position capturing units201are arranged in such a manner that the position capturing unit201on the right captures the left edge of the screen film layer2and the position capturing unit201on the left captures the right edge of the screen film layer2(as shown inFIG.14). A represents an optical path. The adhesive application mechanism202has a one-piece structure as shown inFIGS.13and14to apply the adhesive to the edge of the screen film layer2in the horizontal direction, or has a split-type structure as shown inFIG.20to apply the adhesive to the edge of the screen film layer in the horizontal direction.

The opening of the cover plate layer is arranged as shown inFIGS.9to14, so as to store the adhesive between the edge of the screen and the cover plate layer1, and allow the adhesive to flow into the gap at the edge of the screen. Of course, in some other embodiments of the present disclosure, the opening of the cover plate layer1may also be arranged obliquely. In addition, the adhesive4is arranged above the ink11, so an illumination effect of the flexible display panel10is not adversely affected.

In a possible embodiment of the present disclosure, the reflector203has a planar or curved surface, or a surface having at least two linear portions.

For example, as shown inFIGS.11to13, the reflector203has a planar surface; as shown inFIG.15, the reflector203has a curved surface; as shown inFIG.16, the reflector203has a surface having two linear portions; and as shown inFIG.17, the reflector203has a surface having more than two linear portions.

In a possible embodiment of the present disclosure, the adhesive application mechanism202is a one-piece or split-type mechanism.

For example, as shown inFIGS.9,11,13-14and18-19, the adhesive application mechanism202is a one-piece mechanism; and as shown inFIGS.10,12and20-21is a split-type mechanism. The adhesive application mechanism202inFIG.9may also be replaced with the adhesive application mechanism202inFIG.18, the adhesive application mechanism202inFIG.10may also be replaced with the adhesive application mechanism202inFIG.20, the adhesive application mechanism202inFIG.11may also be replaced with the adhesive application mechanism202inFIG.19, and the adhesive application mechanism202inFIG.12may also be replaced with the adhesive application mechanism202inFIG.21.

The adhesive is an ultraviolet (UV)-curable adhesive. After the application, the adhesive is irradiated with UV, so as to be cured. The UV curing process may be performed simultaneously with a curing process of the OCA24.

According to the adhesive application device in the embodiments of the present disclosure, for a small bending angle, the position capturing unit201directly captures the edge of the screen film layer2, and for a large bending angle, the position capturing unit201captures the edge of the screen film layer2through the reflector203, so it is able to accurately apply the adhesive to the edge of the screen film layer2.

It should be further appreciated that, such phrases as “one embodiment”, “some embodiments”, “an example”, “a specific example” or “some examples” intend to indicate that the features, structures, materials or characteristics are contained in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, rather than referring to a same embodiment. In addition, the features, structures, materials or characteristics may be combined in any embodiment or embodiments in an appropriate manner.

The above embodiments are for illustrative purposes only, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. Apparently, a person skilled in the art may make further modifications and improvements without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure, and these modifications and improvements shall also fall within the scope of the present disclosure.