CN114038330A

CN114038330A - Foldable display module and foldable display device

Info

Publication number: CN114038330A
Application number: CN202111444037.XA
Authority: CN
Inventors: 郑秉文
Original assignee: Wuhan China Star Optoelectronics Semiconductor Display Technology Co Ltd
Current assignee: Wuhan China Star Optoelectronics Semiconductor Display Technology Co Ltd
Priority date: 2021-11-30
Filing date: 2021-11-30
Publication date: 2022-02-11
Anticipated expiration: 2041-11-30
Also published as: CN114038330B

Abstract

The application discloses a foldable display module and a foldable display device, which are provided with a first flat plate area, a second flat plate area and a foldable area connecting the first flat plate area and the second flat plate area; the foldable display module comprises a flexible substrate positioned in the first flat plate area, the second flat plate area and the foldable area, and a circuit layer and a light-emitting device layer which are sequentially arranged on the flexible substrate; the circuit layer comprises a switching circuit and an array circuit which are insulated from each other; the array circuit is electrically connected with the light emitting device layer, the patch circuit extends to the second flat plate area from the first flat plate area to the foldable area, and the two parts of electronic devices which are arranged on the back of the foldable display module and are respectively positioned in the first flat plate area and the second flat plate area are connected in series when the foldable display module is installed. The application simplifies the assembly process of the foldable display device, is favorable for dust prevention and water prevention, and improves the space utilization rate.

Description

Foldable display module and foldable display device

Technical Field

The application relates to the technical field of display, in particular to a foldable display module and a foldable display device.

Background

With the development of display technology, foldable displays gradually show the corner of the market. Currently, major display terminal manufacturers are starting to push or plan to push foldable display terminals, such as the Fold and Flip series of samsung, the mate Fold of huacheng, and the mixfold of millet, and the market occupation rate of foldable displays is also increasing year by year.

As is well known, a foldable display terminal is composed of a foldable display module and a display body, wherein the display body is divided into two sections and connected by a hinge in order to implement a bending function. Because the display body is divided into two sections, the electronic devices such as the battery, the main board, the antenna and the like positioned in the display body are also divided into two parts which are respectively arranged in the two parts of the display body. In order to realize the communication connection of the two-part display body, an additional relay FPC (Flexible Printed Circuit) is required. Generally, the electronic devices in the two-part display body are connected by making a slot design on the middle frame of the two-part display body and then passing several relay FPCs through the slot of the middle frame. Meanwhile, since the switching FPC passes through the hinge region and must be bent, the switching FPC is fixed in the hinge region in a fixed shape.

According to current design, because switching FPC need form fixed shape and fix in corresponding region, the equipment process is more loaded down with trivial details, and it is unfavorable for waterproof dustproof and make space utilization reduce to open a slot at the center edge simultaneously.

Disclosure of Invention

The application provides a collapsible display module assembly and collapsible display device, through form the switching circuit in collapsible display module assembly, at center fluting installation switching FPC when having avoided the installation, simplified the equipment process, be favorable to dustproof and waterproof and promoted space utilization.

The application provides a foldable display module, which is provided with a first flat plate area, a second flat plate area and a foldable area for connecting the first flat plate area and the second flat plate area;

the foldable display module comprises a flexible substrate positioned in the first flat plate area, the second flat plate area and the foldable area, and a circuit layer and a light-emitting device layer which are sequentially arranged on the flexible substrate;

the circuit layer comprises a switching circuit and an array circuit which are insulated from each other; the array circuit is electrically connected with the light emitting device layer, the patch circuit extends to the second flat plate area from the first flat plate area to the foldable area, and the two parts of electronic devices which are arranged on the back of the foldable display module and are respectively positioned in the first flat plate area and the second flat plate area are connected in series when the foldable display module is installed.

Optionally, the array line is located between the patch line and the light emitting device layer; and the line layer further comprises a first buffer layer between the flexible substrate and the patch cord and a second buffer layer between the patch cord and the array cord.

Optionally, the patch circuit and the array circuit are arranged on the same layer.

Optionally, at least a part of the patch cord located in the foldable area has a wave shape in an orthographic projection on the flexible substrate.

Optionally, at least a portion of the patch cables located in the first flat plate area and at least a portion of the patch cables located in the second flat plate area are linearly distributed, and an included angle between the patch cables and the extending direction of the foldable area is an acute angle.

Optionally, the foldable display module further has a first binding region located in the first flat region and disposed away from the foldable region, and a second binding region located in the second flat region and disposed away from the foldable region;

the foldable display module further comprises a first gasket group positioned in the first binding area, a second gasket group positioned in the second binding area, a first flexible circuit board bound with the first gasket group and bent to the back of the flexible substrate, and a second flexible circuit board bound with the second gasket group and bent to the back of the flexible substrate;

two ends of the switching line respectively extend to the first binding area and the second binding area and are respectively and electrically connected with the first pad group and the second pad group.

Optionally, the foldable display module further includes a third pad group at least located in the first binding region, and a third flexible circuit board bound to the third pad group and bent to the back of the flexible substrate; the array wiring is electrically connected to the third pad set.

Optionally, the first pad group and the third pad group are disposed in the same layer, and are disposed side by side at intervals in the extending direction of the first bonding region.

The present application further provides a foldable display device, comprising the foldable display module, a foldable body covering the side and back of the foldable display module, and a plurality of electronic devices located between the foldable display module and the foldable body and respectively located in the first flat area and the second flat area;

two ends of the switching circuit are respectively electrically connected with the electronic device positioned in the first flat plate area and the electronic device positioned in the second flat plate area.

Optionally, the electronic device includes any one or more of a battery, a main board, and an antenna.

The application provides a collapsible display module assembly and collapsible display device is through forming in collapsible display module assembly and can be used for connecting the installation and be in the back of collapsible display module assembly just is located respectively first flat board district with the patch circuit of the two parts electron device in second flat board district, at center fluting installation switching FPC when having avoided the installation, simplified the equipment process, be favorable to dustproof and waterproof and promoted space utilization.

Drawings

The technical solution and other advantages of the present application will become apparent from the detailed description of the embodiments of the present application with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional structure view of a foldable display module according to an embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 2 is a top view of a patch cord according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 3 is a top view of a circuit layer before being bonded according to an embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 4 is a top view of a bonded circuit layer according to an embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 5 is a front plan view of a foldable display module according to an embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 6 is a back top view of a foldable display module according to an embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 7 is a top view of a back surface of a foldable display module and an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 8 is a schematic back structure diagram of a foldable display device according to an embodiment of the present application.

Detailed Description

The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the drawings in the embodiments of the present application. It is to be understood that the embodiments described are only a few embodiments of the present application and not all embodiments. All other embodiments, which can be derived by a person skilled in the art from the embodiments given herein without making any creative effort, shall fall within the protection scope of the present application.

In the description of the present application, it is to be understood that the terms "center," "longitudinal," "lateral," "length," "width," "thickness," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "clockwise," "counterclockwise," and the like are used in the orientations and positional relationships indicated in the drawings for convenience in describing the present application and for simplicity in description, and are not intended to indicate or imply that the referenced devices or elements must have a particular orientation, be constructed in a particular orientation, and be operated in a particular manner, and are not to be construed as limiting the present application. Furthermore, the terms "first", "second" and "first" are used for descriptive purposes only and are not to be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of technical features indicated. Thus, features defined as "first", "second", may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the described features. In the description of the present application, "a plurality" means two or more unless specifically limited otherwise.

In the description of the present application, it is to be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified or limited, the terms "mounted," "connected," and "connected" are to be construed broadly, e.g., as meaning either a fixed connection, a removable connection, or an integral connection; may be mechanically connected, may be electrically connected or may be in communication with each other; either directly or indirectly through intervening media, either internally or in any other relationship. The specific meaning of the above terms in the present application can be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art as appropriate.

In this application, unless expressly stated or limited otherwise, the first feature "on" or "under" the second feature may comprise direct contact of the first and second features, or may comprise contact of the first and second features not directly but through another feature in between. Also, the first feature being "on," "above" and "over" the second feature includes the first feature being directly on and obliquely above the second feature, or merely indicating that the first feature is at a higher level than the second feature. A first feature being "under," "below," and "beneath" a second feature includes the first feature being directly under and obliquely below the second feature, or simply meaning that the first feature is at a lesser elevation than the second feature.

The following disclosure provides many different embodiments or examples for implementing different features of the application. In order to simplify the disclosure of the present application, specific example components and arrangements are described below. Of course, they are merely examples and are not intended to limit the present application. Moreover, the present application may repeat reference numerals and/or letters in the various examples, such repetition is for the purpose of simplicity and clarity and does not in itself dictate a relationship between the various embodiments and/or configurations discussed. In addition, examples of various specific processes and materials are provided herein, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize applications of other processes and/or use of other materials.

As shown in fig. 1, the present embodiment provides a foldable display module 1, and the foldable display module 1 has a first flat area 2, a second flat area 3, and a foldable area 4 connecting the first flat area 2 and the second flat area 3. In particular, the first panel region 2 and the second panel region 3 can be folded together by a foldable region 4.

The foldable display module 1 includes a flexible substrate 5 located in a first panel region 2, a second panel region 3, and a foldable region 4, and a wiring layer 6 and a light emitting device layer 7 sequentially disposed on the flexible substrate 5.

In one embodiment, the foldable display module 1 further comprises a Back Plate (BP)8 and a SUS layer 9 on the side of the flexible substrate 5 away from the wiring layer 6, and a Polarizer (POL)10 and a cover plate (CW)11 on the light emitting device layer 7. It is understood that some of the layers of the foldable display module 1 may be fixed by transparent optical adhesive (OCA), which is not shown in the drawings.

Specifically, the material of the flexible substrate 5 includes PI (Polyimide), and the flexible substrate 5 may be a stacked structure of a double-layer PI substrate or a single-layer PI substrate structure.

Specifically, the line layer 6 includes a patch line 12 and an array line 13 that are insulated from each other. The array circuit 13 is electrically connected to the light emitting device layer 7, and is configured to transmit an electrical signal to the light emitting device layer 7, so as to realize normal light emission of the light emitting device in the light emitting device layer 7. The patch cord 12 extends from the first flat panel region 2 to the foldable region 4 to the second flat panel region 3, and is used for connecting two electronic devices, which are respectively located in the first flat panel region 2 and the second flat panel region 3 and mounted on the back of the foldable display module 1, in series when the foldable display module is installed.

Specifically, the array line 13 includes a plurality of thin film transistors distributed in an array, a plurality of gate lines electrically connected to the plurality of thin film transistors, and a plurality of data lines. The light emitting device layer 7 includes a plurality of light emitting devices, such as OLEDs or LEDs, distributed in an array. It is understood that a plurality of thin film transistors are electrically connected to a plurality of light emitting devices in a one-to-one correspondence.

Specifically, the electronic device includes any one or more of a battery, a main board, and an antenna. When the foldable display module is installed, the electronic device is installed on the back of the foldable display module, and is specifically installed in the machine body. Generally, the body is a foldable body, which is composed of two parts of body and a rotating structure between the two parts of body. The same electronic device is divided into two parts which are respectively arranged in the two parts of the machine body. It is understood that the two-part body is disposed corresponding to the first flat area and the second flat area, and the two-part electronic device is located in the first flat area and the second flat area, respectively.

It will be appreciated that the patch cord 12 of the present embodiment is disposed within the display module and is used to connect the electronics disposed within the two-part body in series to enable communication between the electronics within the two-part body.

Specifically, as shown in fig. 1, the array line 13 is located between the patch line 12 and the light emitting device layer 7; and the line layer 6 also includes a first buffer layer 14 between the flexible substrate 5 and the patch lines 12 and a second buffer layer 15 between the patch lines 12 and the array lines 13. It will be appreciated that the patch lines 12 and the array lines 13 are provided in different layers.

Specifically, the material of the first buffer layer 14 includes any one of silicon nitride and silicon oxide, and the material of the second buffer layer 15 includes any one of silicon nitride and silicon oxide, but of course, the first buffer layer 14 and the second buffer layer 15 may also have a stacked-layer structure of silicon nitride and silicon oxide.

Specifically, the shape of the orthographic projection of the patch cord 12 on the flexible substrate 5 can be designed according to the arrangement of the whole machine, and in order to facilitate bending, the patch cord 12 can be made into an arc shape and other shapes so as to reduce bending stress. As shown in fig. 2, in one embodiment, at least a portion of the patch cord 12 located in the foldable area 4 has a wave shape in the orthographic projection on the flexible substrate; moreover, at least a part of the patch cords 12 located in the first flat area 2 and at least a part of the patch cords 12 located in the second flat area 3 are linearly distributed and form an acute angle with the extending direction of the foldable area 4. Of course, the shape of the orthogonal projection of the patch lines 12 on the flexible substrate 5 and the distribution of the patch lines 12 are not limited in the embodiment of the present application, and the design is specifically performed according to the arrangement of the whole device.

Specifically, as shown in fig. 3, the foldable display module 1 further has a first binding region 16 located in the first panel region 2 and located far away from the foldable region 4, and a second binding region 17 located in the second panel region 3 and located far away from the foldable region 4. As shown in fig. 3 to 6, the foldable display module 1 further includes a first pad group 18 located at the first binding region 16, a second pad group 19 located at the second binding region 17, a first flexible circuit board 20 bound with the first pad group 18 and bent to the back of the flexible substrate 5, and a second flexible circuit board 21 bound with the second pad group 19 and bent to the back of the flexible substrate 5. Both ends of the patch cord 12 extend to the first bonding area 16 and the second bonding area 17, respectively, and are electrically connected to the first pad group 18 and the second pad group 19, respectively.

It can be understood that, as shown in fig. 3, the foldable display module 1 can be further divided into a display area 22 and a non-display area 23, the non-display area 23 is at least located on two sides of the display area 22, and the first binding area 16 and the second binding area 17 in this embodiment of the application are respectively located on the non-display area 23 on two sides of the display area 22.

Specifically, as shown in fig. 3 to 6, the foldable display module 1 further includes a third pad group 24 at least located in the first bonding area 16, and a third flexible circuit board 25 bonded to the third pad group 24 and bent to the back of the flexible substrate 5; the array wiring 13 is electrically connected to the third pad group 24. It is understood that IC bonding is also required when bonding the third flexible circuit board 25.

Specifically, the first pad group 18 and the third pad group 24 are disposed in the same layer and are spaced apart from each other in the extending direction of the first bonding area 16. Since the patch lines 12 and the array lines 13 in the embodiment of the present application are disposed on different layers, the patch lines 12 can be led to the first bonding region 16 and the second bonding region 17 through vias located in the first bonding region 16 and the second bonding region 17 and penetrating through the second buffer layer 15 and the array lines 13, and form a first pad group 18, a second pad group 19, and a third pad group 24 together with the array lines 13.

In one embodiment, as shown in fig. 2 and 3, for a reasonable layout of the first pad set 18, the second pad set 19 and the third pad set 24, the extending directions of the two ends of the patch cord 12 are opposite and form an acute angle with the extending direction of the foldable area 4.

Specifically, since the first pad group 18 and the third pad group 24 are disposed on the same layer, the first flexible circuit board 20 and the third flexible circuit board 25 may be formed in the same process, i.e., integrally disposed.

It will be appreciated that the first pad set 18, the second pad set 19 and the third pad set 24 each include a plurality of spaced pads.

As can be understood, when the display device is installed, one end of the patch cord 12 located in the first bonding area 16 is electrically connected to the electronic device mounted on the back of the foldable display module 1 and located in the first flat panel area 2 through the first pad set 18 and the first flexible circuit board 20, and one end of the patch cord 12 located in the second bonding area 17 is electrically connected to the electronic device mounted on the back of the foldable display module 1 and located in the second flat panel area 3 through the second pad set 19 and the second flexible circuit board 21, so as to achieve normal communication between the two electronic devices.

In the embodiment of the application, the patch cord 12 is formed in the foldable display module 1, and the first flexible circuit board 20 and the second flexible circuit board 21 of the foldable display module 1 are used for completing the electric connection between two electronic devices which are arranged on the back of the foldable display module 1 and respectively located in the first flat board area 2 and the second flat board area 3, so that the purpose of removing the existing patch FPC is achieved, the assembling process is simplified, the dustproof and waterproof effects are achieved, and the space utilization rate is improved.

The application further provides a foldable display module, which is different from the embodiment in that the switching line and the array line are arranged on the same layer. It can be understood that the patch cord in the embodiment of the present application does not need to be led to the first bonding area and the second bonding area through the via hole.

In the embodiment of the application, through forming the switching circuit in collapsible display module to accomplish through the first flexible circuit board and the second flexible circuit board of collapsible display module self and install at the back of collapsible display module and be located the electricity between the two parts electron device in first flat board district and second flat board district respectively and connect, thereby reach the purpose of removing current switching FPC, simplified the equipment process, be favorable to dustproof and waterproof and promoted space utilization.

As shown in fig. 7 and 8, the embodiment of the present application further provides a foldable display device 26, where the foldable display device 26 includes any one of the foldable display modules 1, a foldable body 27 covering the side and the back of the foldable display module 1, and a plurality of electronic devices 28 located between the foldable display module 1 and the foldable body 27 and located in the first flat panel region 2 and the second flat panel region 3, respectively. The two ends of the patch cord 12 are electrically connected to the electronic device 28 located in the first board area 2 and the electronic device 28 located in the second board area 3, respectively.

Specifically, the electronic device 28 includes any one or more of a battery, a main board, and an antenna.

Specifically, the foldable body 27 includes a first body 29, a second body 30, and a rotating structure 31 connecting the first body 29 and the second body 30, and the electronic device 28 is divided into two parts and is installed in the first body 29 and the second body 30, respectively.

In the embodiment of the application, the switching circuit 12 is formed in the foldable display module 1, so that the switching FPC with a fixed shape is prevented from being slotted on the middle frame of the two parts of the body, the assembling process is simplified, the dustproof and waterproof effects are facilitated, and the space utilization rate is improved.

It should be noted that functional devices such as an off-screen camera can be disposed on the foldable display module 1 in the foregoing embodiment, and some openings or groove structures, which are not shown in the drawings, are disposed on the foldable body 27 of the foldable display device 26 corresponding to the functional devices.

In the foregoing embodiments, the descriptions of the respective embodiments have respective emphasis, and for parts that are not described in detail in a certain embodiment, reference may be made to related descriptions of other embodiments.

The foldable display module and the foldable display device provided by the embodiment of the present application are described in detail above, and a specific example is applied in the description to explain the principle and the implementation of the present application, and the description of the above embodiment is only used to help understand the technical scheme and the core idea of the present application; those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that: the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments may still be modified, or some technical features may be equivalently replaced; such modifications or substitutions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A foldable display module is characterized by comprising a first flat plate area, a second flat plate area and a foldable area connecting the first flat plate area and the second flat plate area;

2. The foldable display module of claim 1, wherein the array circuitry is located between the patch circuitry and the light emitting device layer; and the line layer further comprises a first buffer layer between the flexible substrate and the patch cord and a second buffer layer between the patch cord and the array cord.

3. The foldable display module of claim 1, wherein the patch cord and the array cord are disposed in a same layer.

4. The foldable display module of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the patch cord located in the foldable area has an orthogonal projection on the flexible substrate in a wave shape.

5. The foldable display module assembly of claim 4, wherein at least a portion of the switching lines in the first panel area and at least a portion of the switching lines in the second panel area are linearly arranged and form an acute angle with the extending direction of the foldable area.

6. The foldable display module of claim 1, further comprising a first binding region located in the first panel region and located away from the foldable region, and a second binding region located in the second panel region and located away from the foldable region;

7. The foldable display module of claim 6, further comprising a third pad set at least in the first bonding area and a third flexible circuit board bonded to the third pad set and bent to the back of the flexible substrate; the array wiring is electrically connected to the third pad set.

8. The foldable display module of claim 7, wherein the first pad group and the third pad group are disposed in a same layer and spaced side by side in an extending direction of the first bonding area.

9. A foldable display device comprising the foldable display module of any one of claims 1 to 8, a foldable body covering the sides and back of the foldable display module, and a plurality of electronic devices located between the foldable display module and the foldable body and located in the first flat area and the second flat area, respectively;

10. The foldable display device of claim 9, wherein the electronic device comprises any one or more of a battery, a main board, and an antenna.