CN111739426B - flexible display device - Google Patents

Abstract

A flexible display device includes a flexible panel, a casing and two flexible support members. The flexible panel has a bending area. The casing is configured on the flexible panel and is suitable for bending along with the flexible panel. The two flexible supports are arranged between the flexible panel and the casing, and respectively include two branch regions corresponding to the bending region and two fixed regions connected to both sides of the two branch regions and fixed to the casing, The two branch areas are adapted to move relative to the flexible panel and the housing, each branch area has a plurality of spaced apart protrusions and a plurality of grooves between the protrusions, the two branch areas face each other, And at least part of the protruding parts of one of the branch regions protrude into at least part of the grooves of the other branch region.

Description

flexible display device

technical field

The present invention relates to a display device, and in particular to a flexible display device.

Background technique

With the advancement of technology, devices such as flexible mobile phones have begun to be developed on the market. In order to make this type of device bendable, the back cover may be a two-piece design, and the junction of the two structures corresponds to the bending area (folding line) of the flexible panel, so that the back cover does not affect the bending of the panel.

When this type of flexible panel is bent, the back of the flexible panel at the bending area (folding line) may not be covered by the back cover, which makes the back of the flexible panel at the bending area unprotected. In addition, since the flexible panel is exposed at the back of the bending area, it is easy for dust to enter. Then, when the flexible panel is unfolded, dust may be stuck between the flexible panel and the back cover, and the flexible panel may be damaged.

Contents of the invention

The invention provides a flexible display device, which has a protective structure on the back of the bending area of the flexible panel.

A flexible display device of the present invention includes a flexible panel, a casing, and two flexible supports. The flexible panel has a bending area. The casing is configured on the flexible panel and is suitable for bending along with the flexible panel. The two flexible supports are arranged between the flexible panel and the casing, and respectively include two branch regions corresponding to the bending region and two fixed regions connected to both sides of the two branch regions and fixed to the casing, The two branch areas are adapted to move relative to the flexible panel and the housing, each branch area has a plurality of spaced apart protrusions and a plurality of grooves between the protrusions, the two branch areas face each other, and At least part of the protrusions of one of the branch regions protrude into at least part of the grooves of the other branch region.

In an embodiment of the present invention, when the flexible panel is bent, one end of each protrusion abuts against the inner surface of the casing, so that the protrusion bends.

In an embodiment of the present invention, when the flexible panel is bent, one end of each protrusion is not interfered by the casing, so that the protrusion is not bent.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the length of each of the protrusions is L millimeters, the radius of curvature of the bending area of the flexible panel is R millimeters when it is folded in half, and πR<L<πR+20 mm.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the maximum thickness of the two outermost protrusions among the protrusions of the above two branch regions is greater than the maximum thickness of the other protrusions.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the maximum thickness of the two outermost protrusions among the protrusions of the two branch areas is greater than the thickness of the fixing area and less than the sum of the thicknesses of the fixing area and the flexible panel.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the two ends of the two outermost protrusions of the above-mentioned one branch area are respectively connected to the outermost two ends of the protrusions of the other branch area. The two ends of a protrusion.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the above-mentioned four protruding parts connected in pairs have a thickness farther away from the two fixing areas than a part close to the two fixing areas.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the protruding portions of the aforementioned branch regions have various lengths.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the lengths of the protruding portions of the above-mentioned branch regions become smaller as they are closer to the outer side.

Based on the above, the two flexible support members of the flexible display device of the present invention are disposed between the flexible panel and the casing, and respectively include two branch regions corresponding to the bending region and facing each other. Each branch region has the protrusions spaced apart and the grooves between the protrusions, wherein at least part of the protrusions of one branch region protrude into at least part of the grooves of the other branch region Inside. When the flexible display device is bent, the two branch areas of the two flexible support members are located behind the bending area of the flexible panel to provide support and protection. In addition, the concave-convex design of the flexible support member protrudes into the groove by means of the protrusion, so that the protrusion can move or deform along the edge of the groove when it moves or deforms, and it is less likely to move to other positions (such as bending outside the area) to ensure good support and protection for the bending area when the flexible panel is bent.

Description of drawings

1A to 1C are partial cross-sectional schematic views of a bending process of a flexible display device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1D is a schematic top view of two flexible supports of the flexible display device in FIG. 1A .

FIG. 2 is a schematic partial cross-sectional view of a flexible display device during bending according to another embodiment of the present invention.

3A is a schematic top view of two flexible supports according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 3B is a schematic cross-sectional view along line A-A' of Fig. 3A.

Fig. 3C is a schematic cross-sectional view along the line B-B' in Fig. 3A.

FIG. 3D is a schematic partial cross-sectional view of the flexible display device using the flexible support in FIG. 3A when it is bent.

FIG. 4A is a schematic top view of two flexible supports according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 4B is a schematic cross-sectional view along line C-C' of Fig. 4A.

Fig. 4C is a schematic cross-sectional view along line D-D' of Fig. 4A.

FIG. 4D is a schematic partial cross-sectional view of the flexible display device using the flexible support in FIG. 4A when it is bent.

FIG. 5 is a schematic top view of two flexible supports according to another embodiment of the present invention.

List of reference signs

L: Length

R: radius of curvature

T1, T2: maximum thickness

T3, T4, T5, T6: Thickness

100, 100', 100a: flexible display device

110: flexible panel

112: bending area

120: Shell

130: flexible support

132, 132a, 132b, 132c: branch area

133, 133a, 133b, 133c, 133d, 133e: protrusions

134, 134a: end

135: Groove

136: fixed area

140, 142: Adhesive layer

detailed description

1A to 1C are partial cross-sectional schematic views of a bending process of a flexible display device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1D is a schematic top view of two flexible supports of the flexible display device in FIG. 1A .

Please refer to FIG. 1A to FIG. 1D , the flexible display device 100 of this embodiment includes a flexible panel 110 , a housing 120 and two flexible supports 130 . The flexible panel 110 has a bending area 112 . The casing 120 is disposed on the back of the flexible panel 110 and is suitable for bending along with the flexible panel 110 . The casing 120 is, for example, a flexible casing 120 itself. In other unillustrated embodiments, the casing 120 may also present a deformable mesh structure at a position corresponding to the bending area 112 . Alternatively, the casing 120 may also be two separate hard shells or two soft shells.

The two flexible supports 130 are disposed between the flexible panel 110 and the casing 120 . The material of the flexible supporting member 130 may be rubber, silicone, woven cloth or plastic, but not limited thereto. The flexible supporting member 130 respectively includes two branching regions 132 corresponding to the bending region 112 and facing each other, and two fixing regions 136 connected to two sides of the two branching regions 132 and fixed to the casing 120 . The two fixing areas 136 are fixed to the casing 120 by the adhesive layer 140 , for example.

In this embodiment, the two branch areas 132 are adapted to be moved relative to the flexible panel 110 and the casing 120 . Therefore, when the flexible display device 100 is bent, the two branch regions 132 of the two flexible support members 130 are located behind the bending region 112 of the flexible panel 110 to provide support and protection.

As shown in FIG. 1D , in this embodiment, each branch region 132 has a plurality of protrusions 133 spaced apart and a plurality of concave grooves 135 between the protrusions 133 . At least part of the protrusions 133 of one branch region 132 extends into at least part of the grooves 135 of the other branch region 132 .

When the flexible panel 110 has not been bent, the protrusions 133 of the two flexible supports 130 protrude into the corresponding grooves 135 respectively, and are located on the same plane. As shown in FIG. 1C, in this embodiment, when the flexible panel 110 is bent, the end 134 of the protruding portion 133 of the flexible support member 130 abuts against the inner surface of the housing 120, so that the protruding portion 133 bending. In this way, the protrusions 133 cover the back of the bending area 112 of the flexible panel 110 to provide protection and support for the back of the bending area 112 when the flexible panel 110 is flexible. Certainly, when the flexible panel 110 is bent, the bending form of the protruding portion 133 is not limited thereto.

It should be noted that, in this embodiment, the flexible support member 130 extends into the concave-convex design of the groove by means of the protrusion 133 so that the protrusion 133 can move or deform along the edge of the groove when moving or deforming. , it is less likely to move in the up and down direction in Figure 1D. In this way, the two branch regions 132 of the two flexible supports 130 are less likely to be moved to other positions (such as positions other than the bending region 112), so as to ensure that the bending region can be aligned when the flexible panel 110 is bent. 112 provides good support and protection.

It is worth mentioning that if the protruding portion 133 is too long, it may squeeze the flexible panel 110 during bending, and if the protruding portion 133 is too short, it cannot protect the entire bending area 112 during bending. In order to reduce the probability of the above situation, in a preferred embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1D , the length of each protrusion 133 is L mm. As shown in FIG. 1C , the radius of curvature of the bending region 112 of the flexible panel 110 when folded in half is R mm, πR<L<πR+20 mm. The length of the protruding portion 133 can not be pressed against the flexible panel 110 and can protect the entire bending area 112 by means of the above-mentioned design.

For example, if the radius of curvature R is 2 mm, the length L can be 9 mm. If the radius of curvature R is 3 mm, the length L can be 12 mm. If the radius of curvature R is 4 mm, the length L can be 16 mm. If the radius of curvature R is 5 mm, the length L can be 20 mm. Of course, the relationship between the radius of curvature R and the length L is not limited thereto.

FIG. 2 is a schematic partial cross-sectional view of a flexible display device during bending according to another embodiment of the present invention. Please refer to FIG. 2 , the main difference between the flexible display device 100 ′ in FIG. 2 and the flexible display device 100 in FIG. 1C is that, in this embodiment, when the flexible panel 110 is bent, the The end 134 is not interfered by the housing 120 , and the protrusion 133 is not bent by the housing 120 . In this embodiment, even if the end 134 of the protruding portion 133 is bent into an arc shape without being interfered by the housing 120, the protruding portion 133 will still cover the back of the bending region 112 of the flexible panel 110, and the flexible panel The back side of the bending region 112 of 110 provides protection and support.

3A is a schematic top view of two flexible supports according to another embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 3B is a schematic cross-sectional view along line A-A' of Fig. 3A. Fig. 3C is a schematic cross-sectional view along the line B-B' in Fig. 3A. FIG. 3D is a schematic partial cross-sectional view of the flexible display device using the flexible support in FIG. 3A when it is bent.

Please refer to FIG. 3A to FIG. 3D , the main difference between the flexible display device 100a of this embodiment and the flexible display device 100 of FIG. 1A is that in the embodiment of FIG. The thickness of the portion 133 is the same. In this embodiment, referring to FIG. 3A , the outermost two protrusions 133 a of the protrusions 133 , 133 a of the two branch regions 132 a are the uppermost and the lowermost two protrusions in FIG. 3A . Section 133a. In this embodiment, the maximum thickness T2 ( FIG. 3C ) of the two outermost protrusions 133 a among the protrusions 133 , 133 a of the two branch regions 132 a is larger than the maximum thickness T1 ( FIG. 3B ) of the other protrusions 133 . ).

As shown in FIG. 3C , in this embodiment, the maximum thickness T2 of the outermost protruding portion 133 a is greater than the thickness T4 of the fixing area 136 , and covers the edge of the flexible panel 110 . As shown in FIG. 3D , when the flexible display device 100 a is bent, the end 134 a of the protrusion 133 a is interfered by the casing 120 , and the protrusion 133 a still covers the edge of the flexible panel 110 . Therefore, the outermost protruding portion 133a can prevent falling dust from entering the edge of the flexible panel 110 .

In addition, in this embodiment, the maximum thickness T2 of the outermost protruding portion 133 a is smaller than the sum of the thickness T4 of the fixing area 136 and the thickness T3 of the flexible panel 110 . Such a design can prevent the protruding portion 133a protruding from the display surface of the flexible panel 110 to affect the bending condition.

FIG. 4A is a schematic top view of two flexible supports according to another embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 4B is a schematic cross-sectional view along line C-C' of Fig. 4A. Fig. 4C is a schematic cross-sectional view along line D-D' of Fig. 4A. FIG. 4D is a schematic partial cross-sectional view of the flexible display device using the flexible support in FIG. 4A when it is bent.

Please refer to FIG. 4A to FIG. 4D. In this embodiment, in FIG. The four protrusions 133b below. In this embodiment, the two ends of the two outermost protrusions 133b of the protrusions 133, 133b of one branch region 132b are respectively connected to the outermost ends of the protrusions 133, 133b of the other branch region 132b. Two ends of the two outer protrusions 133b are connected (for example, connected by an adhesive layer 142 ).

As shown in FIG. 4B , for the non-outermost protruding portion 133 , the thickness of the protruding portion 133 is the same as the thickness of the fixing area 136 . As shown in FIG. 4C , the thickness T5 of the two protruding portions 133b connected at the outermost side is greater than the thickness T6 of the portion away from the two fixing regions 136 . Such a design can more completely seal the edge of the flexible panel 110 to avoid falling dust.

FIG. 5 is a schematic top view of two flexible supports according to another embodiment of the present invention. Please refer to FIG. 5 , in this embodiment, the protruding portions 133c, 133d, 133e of each branch region 132c have various lengths. For example, the protruding portions 133c, 133d, 133e of each branch area 132 have shorter lengths as they are closer to the outer side. The shorter protrusion 133c can give way to other mechanisms to provide space.

Of course, in other embodiments, the protruding portions 133c, 133d, and 133e of each branch region 132c may also have shorter lengths as they get closer to the inner side. Alternatively, the lengths of the protruding portions 133c, 133d, and 133e may also be adjusted depending on the configuration on the mechanism, regardless of their positions close to the inner and outer sides.

To sum up, the two flexible supports of the flexible display device of the present invention are disposed between the flexible panel and the casing, and respectively include two branch regions corresponding to the bending region and facing each other. Each branch region has the protrusions spaced apart and the grooves between the protrusions, wherein at least a part of the protrusions of one branch region protrudes into at least a part of the grooves of the other branch region. When the flexible display device is bent, the two branch areas of the two flexible support members are located behind the bending area of the flexible panel to provide support and protection. In addition, the concave-convex design of the flexible support part protrudes into the groove by means of the protrusion, so that the protrusion can move or deform along the edge of the groove when moving or deforming, and is less likely to move to other positions (such as curved position outside the bending area) to ensure good support and protection for the bending area when the flexible panel is bent.

Claims (8)

1. A flexible display device, comprising: A flexible panel having a bending zone; a casing configured on the flexible panel and adapted to bend along with the flexible panel; and Two flexible supports are arranged between the flexible panel and the casing, and respectively include two branch regions corresponding to the bending region, connected to both sides of the two branch regions and fixed to the casing Two fixed areas of the body, wherein the two branch areas are adapted to move relative to the flexible panel and the housing, each of the branch areas has a plurality of protrusions spaced apart and located on the plurality of protrusions A plurality of concave grooves between the two branch regions, the two branch regions face each other, and at least part of the plurality of protrusions of one branch region protrude into at least part of the plurality of protrusions of the other branch region in the groove, The two ends of the two outermost protrusions of the plurality of protrusions in one of the branch areas are respectively connected to the outermost two protrusions of the plurality of protrusions in the other branch area. the two ends of the protrusion, Wherein the four protruding parts connected in pairs have a thickness at a position away from the two fixing areas greater than a thickness at a position close to the two fixing areas. 2. The flexible display device according to claim 1, wherein when the flexible panel is bent, one end of each of the protrusions abuts against the inner surface of the casing, so that the protrusions bending. 3. The flexible display device according to claim 1, wherein when the flexible panel is bent, one end of each of the protrusions is not interfered by the casing, so that the protrusions are not bent . 4. The flexible display device according to claim 1, wherein the length of each of the protrusions is L millimeters, and the radius of curvature of the bending region of the flexible panel is R millimeters when folded in half, then πR< L<πR+20 mm. 5. The flexible display device according to claim 1, wherein the maximum thickness of the two outermost protrusions among the plurality of protrusions in the two branch regions is greater than the maximum thickness of the other protrusions . 6. The flexible display device according to claim 5, wherein the maximum thickness of the two outermost protrusions among the plurality of protrusions of the two branch regions is greater than the thickness of the fixing region and less than and the thickness of the fixed area and the flexible panel. 7. The flexible display device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of protrusions of each branch region have various lengths. 8 . The flexible display device as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the lengths of the plurality of protrusions of each of the branch regions become smaller as they are closer to the outer side.

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