Electronic device

Abstract

The application discloses an electronic device. The electronic device comprises a flexible display screen, a shell assembly, and a glue layer assembly fixed between the flexible display screen and the shell assembly. The glue layer assembly comprises a strong glue layer and a weak glue layer, and the rigidity of the strong glue layer is greater than that of the weak glue layer. By arranging the positions of the strong glue layer and the weak glue layer, the bending part of the flexible display screen can be bent into a water drop shape, the risk of film layer separation or glue separation of the flexible display screen is small during folding and unfolding of the electronic device, the reliability of the flexible display screen is good, the service life of the electronic device is prolonged, and the use experience of the user is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of communication technology, and more particularly to an electronic device. Background Technology

[0002] In recent years, flexible displays have been widely used in various foldable electronic devices due to their thinness, lightness, and durability. When foldable electronic devices are unfolded, the flexible display unfolds, providing a large display area to meet users' needs for a large-screen viewing experience; when folded, the flexible display folds, resulting in a smaller overall size of the electronic device, making it easy to store and carry. However, during repeated folding and unfolding with electronic devices, flexible displays are prone to problems such as film layer separation or adhesive detachment, leading to poor reliability. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This application provides an electronic device with a flexible display screen that has good reliability.

[0004] This application provides an electronic device, which includes a first housing, a pivot assembly, and a second housing connected in sequence. The pivot assembly includes a pivot body, a first support plate, and a second support plate. The first housing and the second housing are respectively fixed to both ends of the pivot body. The pivot body is deformable to allow the first housing and the second housing to unfold or fold relative to each other. The first support plate and the second support plate are movably connected to the pivot body and spaced apart from each other.

[0005] The electronic device also includes a flexible display screen, two strong adhesive layers, and two weak adhesive layers. The flexible display screen includes a first non-bent portion, a first bent portion, a second bent portion, a third bent portion, and a second non-bent portion arranged sequentially. The bent portions of the flexible display screen include the first bent portion, the second bent portion, and the third bent portion. The two weak adhesive layers are respectively bonded between the first non-bent portion and the first housing, and between the second non-bent portion and the second housing. The two strong adhesive layers are respectively bonded between the first bent portion and the first support plate, and between the third bent portion and the second support plate.

[0006] When the first shell and the second shell are folded together to a closed state, the second support plate and the first support plate move away from each other in the direction close to the middle of the rotating shaft body, so that the first bend, the second bend and the third bend are bent together into a teardrop shape, and the stiffness of the strong adhesive layer is greater than that of the weak adhesive layer.

[0007] In this application, the electronic device, through a first support plate, a second support plate, and two strong adhesive layers, enables the flexible display screen's bending portion to bend into a teardrop shape when the first and second housings are folded together to a closed state. This disperses the stress on the bending portion of the flexible display screen, resulting in a more uniform stress distribution during bending. Consequently, the risk of film separation or adhesive detachment during the folding and unfolding of the electronic device is reduced, improving the reliability of the flexible display screen, extending the lifespan of the electronic device, and enhancing the user experience.

[0008] Furthermore, because the flexible display screen's bending section is teardrop-shaped, the first and second non-bending sections of the flexible display screen can approach each other with a small distance between them. They can be roughly parallel, which makes the gap between the two folded structures smaller when the electronic device is in a closed state. This achieves a seamless (or small gap) design after folding, making the overall size of the electronic device smaller, easier to store and carry, and providing a better aesthetic experience.

[0009] Furthermore, during the folding of the first and second housings, which in turn causes the flexible display screen to fold, the stress generated by the deformation of the bent flexible display screen causes it to shift relative to the housing assembly. The flexible display screen can move relative to the housing assembly towards the outer end of the first and second housings, away from the pivot assembly, or towards the center of the pivot body. At this time, because the first bent portion is bonded to the first support plate with a strong adhesive layer, the third bent portion to the second support plate with a strong adhesive layer, the first non-bent portion to the first housing with a weak adhesive layer, and the second non-bent portion to the second housing with a weak adhesive layer, and the rigidity of the strong adhesive layer is greater than that of the weak adhesive layer, the misalignment of the flexible display screen relative to the first and second support plates is smaller, while the misalignment relative to the first and second housings is larger. Therefore, the length change of the bent portion of the flexible display screen is small during unfolding and folding, which reduces the risk of arching, delamination, or delamination due to incomplete recovery of the bent portion during the unfolding of the electronic device, thereby improving the reliability of the flexible display screen. At the same time, the stress at the junction of the first bent portion and the first non-bent portion of the flexible display screen can be smoothly released through the misalignment between the first non-bent portion and the first housing, and the stress at the junction of the third bent portion and the second non-bent portion can be smoothly released through the misalignment between the second non-bent portion and the second housing. Therefore, it can also reduce the risk of arching, delamination, or delamination due to incomplete recovery of the junction of the bent portion and the non-bent portion of the flexible display screen during the unfolding of the electronic device, thereby improving the reliability of the flexible display screen. The flexible display screen has better reliability.

[0010] In one possible implementation, the end of the flexible display screen where the second bend connects to the first bend forms a first arc segment, the end of the second bend connects to the third bend forms a second arc segment, and the middle of the second bend forms a third arc segment. The first, third, and second arc segments transition smoothly between each other.

[0011] In one possible implementation, the strong adhesive layer and the weak adhesive layer are spaced apart. That is, the weak adhesive layer bonding the first housing and the strong adhesive layer bonding the first support plate are spaced apart, and the weak adhesive layer bonding the second housing and the strong adhesive layer bonding the second support plate are spaced apart. When the first housing and the second housing are folded relative to each other to a closed state, the distance between the two weak adhesive layers is less than the distance between the two strong adhesive layers.

[0012] In this implementation, the first bent portion of the flexible display screen can form a fourth arc segment near the first non-bent portion. The fourth arc segment has no adhesive relationship with the strong adhesive layer. The third bent portion can form a fifth arc segment near the second non-bent portion. The fifth arc segment has no adhesive relationship with the strong adhesive layer. This makes the water droplet shape formed by the bent portion transition more smoothly, which is beneficial to improving the reliability of the flexible display screen.

[0013] Furthermore, since the flexible display screen's bending section is bent into a teardrop shape, the bending section includes a first arc segment, a second arc segment, and a third arc segment with their centers inside the flexible display screen, as well as a fourth arc segment and a fifth arc segment with their centers outside the display screen. The teardrop shape makes the radii of the fourth and fifth arc segments larger, thereby reducing the difference in bending radii between the inner and outer layer structures of the bending section. This helps to reduce the misalignment distance required for the flexible display screen, making the flexible display screen easier to bend and more reliable.

[0014] In one possible implementation, the flexible display screen includes a support member and a display panel stacked together. The support member is bonded with a strong adhesive layer and a weak adhesive layer. The support member includes a first metal plate, a second metal plate, and a third metal plate arranged in sequence. The first metal plate is located in a first non-bending portion, the second metal plate is located in a first bending portion, a second bending portion, and a third bending portion, and the third metal plate is located in a second non-bending portion. The second metal plate is bendable.

[0015] In this implementation, the support component is a continuous metal plate, which provides support for the display panel and results in high structural strength for the flexible display screen. The second metal plate is bendable, allowing the flexible display screen to bend smoothly.

[0016] In addition, the support components and the display panel can be misaligned, thereby reducing the misalignment requirements between the internal structures of the display panel, making the display panel easier to bend, more reliable, and the flexible display screen more reliable.

[0017] In one possible implementation, the thickness of the second metal plate is less than the thickness of the first metal plate and less than the thickness of the third metal plate. In this case, the structural strength of the second metal plate is reduced, which helps to reduce the difficulty of bending, making the flexible display screen easier to bend and thus improving the user experience.

[0018] In one possible implementation, the second metal plate has one or more perforations. In this case, the structural strength of the second metal plate is reduced, which helps to reduce the difficulty of bending, making the flexible display screen easier to bend and thus improving the user experience.

[0019] In one possible implementation, the flexible display screen further includes a fixing adhesive layer bonded between the display panel and the support member. The fixing adhesive layer partially fills one or more perforations in the second metal plate to give the bent portion of the flexible display panel better flatness.

[0020] In one possible implementation, the modulus of the strong adhesive layer is greater than that of the weak adhesive layer. In this implementation, the strong adhesive layer uses a material with a higher modulus, while the weak adhesive layer uses a material with a lower modulus, thereby making the stiffness of the strong adhesive layer greater than that of the weak adhesive layer to meet the bonding requirements between the flexible display screen and the housing assembly.

[0021] In one possible implementation, the strong adhesive layer uses a double-sided adhesive material or a hot melt adhesive material with polyethylene terephthalate as the substrate.

[0022] In one possible implementation, the weak adhesive layer uses a double-sided adhesive material with foam as the substrate or a silicone material.

[0023] In one possible implementation, the weak adhesive layer uses a substrate-free double-sided adhesive material with a low modulus.

[0024] In one possible implementation, the weak adhesive layer uses an acrylic or rubber-based adhesive with a low modulus.

[0025] In one possible implementation, the strong adhesive layer is in the form of a continuous elongated strip. In this case, the area of ​​the strong adhesive layer is relatively large, which is beneficial for achieving greater rigidity to meet the bonding requirements.

[0026] In one possible implementation, the weak adhesive layer includes one or more open areas to form a patterned structure. In this case, the stiffness of the weak adhesive layer is lower than that of the strong adhesive layer to meet the bonding requirements.

[0027] In one possible implementation, the weak adhesive layer has a frame-shaped structure. The weak adhesive layer includes a hollowed-out area in the center. The shape of the frame of the weak adhesive layer varies with the shapes of the first and second non-bent portions of the flexible display screen.

[0028] In one possible implementation, the weak adhesive layer is a grid structure. The weak adhesive layer includes multiple spaced-apart perforated areas. These perforated areas are arranged in an array. Alternatively, the perforated areas can have other arrangement patterns or be randomly arranged. The shape of the perforated areas can be rectangular, circular, elliptical, triangular, rhomboid, or other regular or irregular shapes.

[0029] In one possible implementation, the weak adhesive layer comprises multiple long adhesive strips spaced apart from each other. A cutout area is formed between adjacent long adhesive strips. The long side of each long adhesive strip can be a straight line or a wavy line.

[0030] In one possible implementation, the weak adhesive layer comprises multiple adhesive blocks spaced apart from each other. A cutout area is formed between adjacent adhesive blocks. In this implementation, the weak adhesive layer has one cutout area, roughly in a grid shape, which separates all the adhesive blocks.

[0031] The shape of the glue blocks can be rectangular, circular, oval, triangular, rhomboid, or other regular or irregular shapes. Multiple glue blocks can be arranged in an array, or they can be arranged according to other patterns or randomly.

[0032] In one possible implementation, the weak adhesive layer includes multiple first adhesive blocks and multiple second adhesive blocks, the area of ​​the second adhesive blocks being different from the area of ​​the first adhesive blocks, and all the first and second adhesive blocks are distributed alternately. A hollow area is formed between adjacent adhesive blocks. In this implementation, the weak adhesive layer has one hollow area, roughly in a grid shape, which separates all the adhesive blocks.

[0033] The first and second glue blocks can be structures of the same shape but different sizes, or they can be structures of different shapes. The first and second glue blocks can be rectangular, circular, elliptical, triangular, rhomboid, or other regular or irregular shapes.

[0034] In one possible implementation, the weak adhesive layer adopts a continuous, monolithic structure, and its shape varies with the shapes of the supporting surfaces of the first and second housings. In this case, the weak adhesive layer can be made of a material with a lower modulus, so that its stiffness is less than that of the strong adhesive layer.

[0035] In one possible implementation, the modulus of the strong adhesive layer is equal to that of the weak adhesive layer, and the area of ​​the strong adhesive layer is larger than that of the weak adhesive layer. In this case, the stiffness of the strong adhesive layer is greater than that of the weak adhesive layer. The weak adhesive layer may have a larger hollow area, making its area smaller than that of the strong adhesive layer. Attached Figure Description

[0036] Figure 1This is a schematic diagram of an electronic device in an open state, provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0037] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the electronic device in a closed state;

[0038] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 Partial exploded view of the electronic device shown Figure 1 ;

[0039] Figure 4 yes Figure 1 Partial exploded view of the electronic device shown Figure 2 ;

[0040] Figure 5 yes Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the part of the electronic device shown cut along point AA.

[0041] Figure 6 yes Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the internal structure of the flexible display screen of the electronic device shown.

[0042] Figure 7 yes Figure 6 The diagram shows another internal structure of the flexible display screen in another usage state.

[0043] Figure 8 yes Figure 3 The structure of the weak adhesive layer shown in some other embodiments;

[0044] Figure 9 yes Figure 3 The structure of the weak adhesive layer shown in some embodiments;

[0045] Figure 10 yes Figure 3 The structure of the weak adhesive layer shown in some embodiments;

[0046] Figure 11 yes Figure 3 The structure of the weak adhesive layer shown in some embodiments;

[0047] Figure 12 yes Figure 3 The structure of the weak adhesive layer shown in some embodiments;

[0048] Figure 13 yes Figure 3 The structure of the weak adhesive layer shown is in some other embodiments. Detailed Implementation

[0049] The embodiments of this application are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0050] This application provides a foldable electronic device. The electronic device includes a flexible display screen, a housing assembly, and an adhesive layer assembly fixed between the flexible display screen and the housing assembly. The adhesive layer assembly includes a strong adhesive layer and a weak adhesive layer, with the strong adhesive layer having a higher stiffness than the weak adhesive layer. By setting the arrangement of the strong and weak adhesive layers, the risk of film separation or adhesive detachment during the folding and unfolding of the flexible display screen is reduced, resulting in better reliability of the flexible display screen, which helps extend the service life of the electronic device and improve the user experience.

[0051] Please refer to the following: Figure 1 and Figure 2 , Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of an electronic device 100 in an open state according to an embodiment of this application; Figure 2 yes Figure 1 The diagram shows the structure of the electronic device 100 in a closed state.

[0052] Electronic device 100 is a foldable electronic product. Electronic device 100 can be a mobile phone, tablet computer, in-vehicle equipment, wearable device, etc. Figure 1 The electronic device 100 of the illustrated embodiment is described using a mobile phone as an example. For ease of description, as follows... Figure 1 As shown, the width direction of the electronic device 100 is defined as the X-axis, the length direction of the electronic device 100 is defined as the Y-axis, and the thickness direction of the electronic device 100 is defined as the Z-axis. The width direction X, the length direction Y, and the thickness direction Z of the electronic device 100 are perpendicular to each other.

[0053] The electronic device 100 includes a flexible display screen 1 and a housing assembly 2, wherein the flexible display screen 1 is fixed to the housing assembly 2.

[0054] The flexible display screen 1 is used to display images. For example, the flexible display screen 1 can be an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display screen, an active-matrix organic light-emitting diode (AMOLED) display screen, a mini organic light-emitting diode (MLED) display screen, a micro organic light-emitting diode (MOLED) display screen, a micro organic light-emitting diode (MLED) display screen, or a quantum dot light-emitting diode (QLED) display screen.

[0055] The housing assembly 2 includes a first housing 21, a pivot assembly 22, and a second housing 23 connected in sequence. The pivot assembly 22 is deformable, allowing the first housing 21 and the second housing 23 to unfold or fold relative to each other. Figure 1 As shown, the first housing 21 and the second housing 23 can be fully opened relative to each other to put the electronic device 100 in an open state. For example, when the first housing 21 and the second housing 23 are fully opened, they can be approximately 180° apart (slight deviations are also allowed, such as 165°, 177°, or 185°). Figure 2 As shown, the first housing 21 and the second housing 23 can be folded relative to each other to close, so that the electronic device 100 is in a closed state. For example, when the first housing 21 and the second housing 23 are closed, they are parallel (a slight deviation is also allowed). In other words, the electronic device 100 can switch between an open state and a closed state by deforming the hinge assembly 22. In some embodiments, the electronic device 100 can also be deformed by the hinge assembly 22 to allow the first housing 21 and the second housing 23 to unfold / fold relative to each other until the electronic device 100 is in a partially open state, that is, the first housing 21 and the second housing 23 are in an intermediate state between a fully open state and a closed state. In some other embodiments, when the first housing 21 and the second housing 23 are fully open, they can also be at approximately obtuse angles such as 120°, 135°, or 150°, etc., which are not strictly limited in this application embodiment.

[0056] For example, such as Figure 1As shown, the electronic device 100 is bent around the rotation axis 20, that is, the first housing 21 and the second housing 23 are unfolded or folded relative to each other around the rotation axis 20, and the rotation axis 20 is parallel to the width direction X of the electronic device 100. In some other embodiments, the rotation axis 20 may also be parallel to the length direction Y of the electronic device 100, and this application does not strictly limit this.

[0057] In this embodiment, the flexible display screen 1 can be bent along with the housing component 2. When the electronic device 100 is in the open state, the flexible display screen 1 is flattened and can display the entire screen, giving the electronic device 100 a larger display area to improve the user's viewing experience. When the electronic device 100 is in the closed state, the flexible display screen 1 is folded inside the housing component 2, and the planar size of the electronic device 100 is smaller, making it easier for users to carry and store.

[0058] like Figure 2 As shown, when the electronic device 100 is in the closed state, the hinge assembly 22 of the electronic device 100 is exposed and has a complete appearance, without obvious holes or protruding structures. This not only improves the appearance integrity of the electronic device 100, but also helps to improve the user's grip.

[0059] In some embodiments, the electronic device 100 further includes a processor (not shown) installed within the housing assembly 2, with the flexible display screen 1 coupled to the processor. The processor controls the display operation of the flexible display screen 1. The electronic device 100 also includes one or more functional modules installed within the housing assembly 2 and coupled to the processor. The processor further controls the operation of one or more functional modules. Functional modules may include, but are not limited to, camera modules, speaker modules, microphone modules, sensor modules, and wireless communication modules. This application does not strictly limit the function of the processor, the number of functional modules, or the type of functional modules in the electronic device 100.

[0060] Please refer to the following: Figure 3 and Figure 4 , Figure 3 yes Figure 1 Partial exploded view of the electronic device 100 shown. Figure 1 , Figure 4 yes Figure 1 Partial exploded view of the electronic device 100 shown. Figure 2 . Figure 3 and Figure 4 The adhesive layer assembly was filled to highlight the structure.

[0061] The pivot assembly 22 includes a pivot body 221, a first support plate 222, and a second support plate 223. The first housing 21 and the second housing 23 are respectively fixed to both ends of the pivot body 221 to connect the first housing 21 and the second housing 23. The pivot body 221 is deformable, allowing the first housing 21 and the second housing 23 to unfold or fold relative to each other. The first support plate 222 and the second support plate 223 are movably connected to the pivot body 221 and spaced apart from each other. The first support plate 222 and the second support plate 223 move with the pivot body 221. In some embodiments, the pivot assembly 22 may further include a third support plate 224, which is fixedly or movably connected to the pivot body 221 and located between the first support plate 222 and the second support plate 223.

[0062] The connection between the first support plate 222 and the rotating shaft body 221 can include a rotational connection and / or a sliding connection, and the connection between the second support plate 223 and the rotating shaft body 221 can also include a rotational connection and / or a sliding connection. In this embodiment, the rotating shaft body 221, the first support plate 222, and the second support plate 223 can be implemented in various ways. For example, the rotating shaft assembly 22 may include, but is not limited to, one or more of the following: hinge, slider, groove, pin, connecting rod, and rocker arm. Alternatively, the rotating shaft assembly 22 can also be made of elastic materials, shape memory alloy materials, etc. This application does not strictly limit the specific implementation of the rotating shaft assembly 22. In this embodiment, "A and / or B" includes three cases: "A", "B", and "A and B".

[0063] The flexible display screen 1 includes a first non-bending portion 11, a first bending portion 12, a second bending portion 13, a third bending portion 14, and a second non-bending portion 15 arranged sequentially. The first non-bending portion 11 can be correspondingly installed on the first housing 21, and the second non-bending portion 15 can be correspondingly installed on the second housing 23. The first bending portion 12, the second bending portion 13, and the third bending portion 14 together form the bending portion 10 of the flexible display screen 1, and the bending portion 10 can be correspondingly installed on the pivot assembly 22. The flexible display screen 1 can be a continuous, integrated display screen structure, and the first non-bending portion 11, the first bending portion 12, the second bending portion 13, the third bending portion 14, and the second non-bending portion 15 are all part of the flexible display screen 1.

[0064] The electronic device 100 also includes an adhesive layer assembly 3, which is used to bond and fix the flexible display screen 1 to the housing assembly 2. Exemplarily, the adhesive layer of the adhesive layer assembly 3 can be one or more of double-sided adhesive, acrylic adhesive, rubber adhesive, and silicone adhesive. The fixing process of the adhesive layer of the adhesive layer assembly 3 can be ultraviolet (UV) curing, moisture curing, heat curing, or infrared curing, etc. This application does not strictly limit the specific materials and molding processes of the adhesive layer in the adhesive layer assembly 3.

[0065] The adhesive layer assembly 3 includes two strong adhesive layers 31 and two weak adhesive layers 32. The stiffness of the strong adhesive layers 31 is greater than that of the weak adhesive layers 32. In this embodiment, "stiffness" refers to the ability of the adhesive layer to resist elastic deformation under stress. In other words, when subjected to external force, the strong adhesive layers 31 are less likely to deform than the weak adhesive layers 32. It should be understood that in this embodiment, the weak adhesive layers 32 are relatively less stiff than the strong adhesive layers 31, and are not limited to having very weak stiffness themselves. Similarly, the strong adhesive layers 31 are relatively more stiff than the weak adhesive layers 32, and are not limited to having very strong stiffness themselves.

[0066] One of the two weak adhesive layers 32 is fixed to the first housing 21 for bonding the first non-bent portion 11, and the other weak adhesive layer 32 is fixed to the second housing 23 for bonding the second non-bent portion 15. One of the two strong adhesive layers 31 is fixed to the first support plate 222 for bonding the first bent portion 12, and the other strong adhesive layer 31 is fixed to the second support plate 223 for bonding the second bent portion 13. In other words, the two weak adhesive layers 32 are respectively bonded between the first non-bent portion 11 and the first housing 21, and between the second non-bent portion 15 and the second housing 23, and the two strong adhesive layers 31 are respectively bonded between the first bent portion 12 and the first support plate 222, and between the third bent portion 14 and the second support plate 223.

[0067] In some embodiments, when the electronic device 100 is in the open state, the hinge body 221 is approximately flattened, and the support surfaces of the first support plate 222, the second support plate 223, the third support plate 224, the first housing 21, and the second housing 23 for fixing the flexible display screen 1 are approximately flush, so as to better support the flexible display screen 1 and make the flexible display screen 1 have a flat display and touch plane, which is beneficial to improving the user's viewing experience and touch operation experience. In other embodiments, the hinge assembly 22 may not have the third support plate 224. When the electronic device 100 is in the open state, a portion of the structure of the hinge body 221 supports the second bent portion 13 of the flexible display screen 1, so that the hinge assembly 22 fully supports the bent portion 10 of the flexible display screen 1.

[0068] Please see Figure 5 , Figure 5 yes Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the structure of the electronic device 100 cut along point AA.

[0069] When the first housing 21 and the second housing 23 are folded together to a closed state, the second support plate 223 and the first support plate 222 move away from each other in the direction near the center of the pivot body 221 (that is, near the third support plate 224), so that the first bent portion 12, the second bent portion 13, and the third bent portion 14 are bent together into a teardrop shape. That is, when the electronic device 100 is in a closed state, the bent portion 10 of the flexible display screen 1 is teardrop-shaped.

[0070] In this embodiment, the electronic device 100, through the first support plate 222, the second support plate 223, and the two strong adhesive layers 31, enables the bending portion 10 of the flexible display screen 1 to be bent into a teardrop shape when the first housing 21 and the second housing 23 are folded to a closed state. This disperses the stress on the bending portion 10 of the flexible display screen 1, making the stress state of the flexible display screen 1 more uniform during the bending process. Therefore, the risk of film separation or delamination problems during the folding and unfolding of the flexible display screen 1 with the electronic device 100 is small, which improves the reliability of the flexible display screen 1, helps to extend the service life of the electronic device 100, and improves the user experience.

[0071] Furthermore, since the bending portion 10 of the flexible display screen 1 is teardrop-shaped, the first non-bending portion 11 and the second non-bending portion 15 of the flexible display screen 1 can approach each other with a small distance between them. They can be roughly parallel, so that when the electronic device 100 is in a closed state, the gap between the two folded parts is small, thereby achieving a seamless (or small gap) design after folding. This makes the overall size of the electronic device 100 smaller, easier to store and carry, and provides a better aesthetic experience.

[0072] Furthermore, during the folding of the first housing 21 and the second housing 23, which causes the flexible display screen 1 to fold, the stress generated by the deformation of the bent flexible display screen 1 causes it to shift relative to the housing assembly 2. For example, the flexible display screen 1 may move relative to the housing assembly 2 towards the outer end of the first housing 21 and the second housing 23 away from the pivot assembly 22, or towards the middle of the pivot body 221. At this time, since the first bent portion 12 is bonded to the first support plate 222 by a strong adhesive layer 31, the third bent portion 14 is bonded to the second support plate 223 by a strong adhesive layer 31, the first non-bent portion 11 is bonded to the first housing 21 by a weak adhesive layer 32, and the second non-bent portion 15 is bonded to the second housing 23 by a weak adhesive layer 32, and the rigidity of the strong adhesive layer 31 is greater than that of the weak adhesive layer 32, the misalignment of the flexible display screen 1 relative to the first support plate 222 and the second support plate 223 is small, while the misalignment relative to the first housing 21 and the second housing 23 is large. Therefore, the length change of the bent portion 10 of the flexible display screen 1 during the unfolding and folding process is small, which can reduce the risk of the bent portion 10 of the flexible display screen 1 arching, delamination or delamination due to incomplete recovery during the unfolding of the electronic device 100, thereby improving the reliability of the flexible display screen 1. At the same time, the stress at the junction of the first bent portion 12 and the first non-bent portion 11 of the flexible display screen 1 can be smoothly released through the misalignment between the first non-bent portion 11 and the first housing 21, and the stress at the junction of the third bent portion 14 and the second non-bent portion 15 can be smoothly released through the misalignment between the second non-bent portion 15 and the second housing 23. Therefore, it can also reduce the risk of the junction of the bent portion 10 and the non-bent portions (11, 15) of the flexible display screen 1 arching, delamination or delamination due to incomplete recovery during the unfolding of the electronic device 100, thereby improving the reliability of the flexible display screen 1.

[0073] It is understandable that when the flexible display screen 1 is folded or unfolded with the housing assembly 2, the misalignment movement of the flexible display screen 1 relative to the housing assembly 2 is minor, and its direction of movement is related to the specific design of the flexible display screen 1, the adhesive layer assembly 3, and the housing assembly 2 (e.g., structural, dimensional, and positional parameters). For example, the first bent portion 12 of the flexible display screen 1 moves relative to the first support plate 222 towards the outer end of the first housing 21, the third bent portion 14 moves relative to the second support plate 223 towards the outer end of the second housing 23, the first non-bent portion 11 moves relative to the first housing 21 towards the outer end of the first housing 21, and the second non-bent portion 15 moves relative to the second housing 23 towards the outer end of the second housing 23.

[0074] For example, the end of the second bent portion 13 of the flexible display screen 1 connected to the first bent portion 12 forms a first arc segment R1, the end of the second bent portion 13 connected to the third bent portion 14 forms a second arc segment R2, and the middle portion of the second bent portion 13 forms a third arc segment R3. The first arc segment R1, the third arc segment R3, and the second arc segment R2 transition smoothly. For example, the support surface of the first support plate 222 is a plane, and the support surface of the second support plate 223 is a plane.

[0075] In some embodiments, the strong adhesive layer 31 and the weak adhesive layer 32 are spaced apart. That is, the weak adhesive layer 32 bonding the first housing 21 and the strong adhesive layer 31 bonding the first support plate 222 are spaced apart, and the weak adhesive layer 32 bonding the second housing 23 and the strong adhesive layer 31 bonding the second support plate 223 are spaced apart. When the first housing 21 and the second housing 23 are folded to a closed state, the distance between the two weak adhesive layers 32 is less than the distance between the two strong adhesive layers 31. At this time, the first bending portion 12 of the flexible display screen 1 can form a fourth arc segment R4 near the first non-bending portion 11. The fourth arc segment R4 has no adhesive relationship with the strong adhesive layer 31. The third bending portion 14 can form a fifth arc segment R5 near the second non-bending portion 15. The fifth arc segment R5 has no adhesive relationship with the strong adhesive layer 31, thereby making the teardrop shape formed by the bending portion 10 transition more smoothly, which is beneficial to improving the reliability of the flexible display screen 1.

[0076] Please see Figure 6 , Figure 6 yes Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the internal structure of the flexible display screen 1 of the electronic device 100 shown.

[0077] When the electronic device 100 is in a closed state, the bent flexible display screen 1 will be slightly misaligned relative to the housing assembly 2, and the multiple layers of the flexible display screen 1 will also be slightly misaligned.

[0078] In some embodiments, the flexible display screen 1 includes a support member 16 and a display panel 17 stacked together. The support member 16 is located on the non-display side of the display panel 17, and when the flexible display screen 1 is turned, the support member 16 is located on the outside of the display panel 17. The support member 16 is used to bond the strong adhesive layer 31 and the weak adhesive layer 32. The support member 16 and the display panel 17 are bonded and fixed together by a fixing adhesive layer 18.

[0079] The display panel 17 includes multiple layers of film stacked together, and an adhesive layer located between any two adjacent film layers for bonding and fixing. For example, Figure 6 In this embodiment, the multilayer film and multilayer adhesive layers are simplified to a first film layer 171, a first adhesive layer 172, a second film layer 173, a second adhesive layer 174, and a third film layer 175, which are stacked sequentially. The third film layer 175 is bonded to the support member 16.

[0080] When the flexible display screen 1 is bent, due to the different bending radii, the layers of the flexible display screen 1 will undergo relative misalignment to maintain the constant length of each layer. The misalignment deformation between the multilayer materials is mainly absorbed by the layer material with lower modulus (such as the adhesive layer) to reduce the failure of the flexible display screen 1 due to the inability to meet the corresponding misalignment movement requirements or stress strain, which would lead to separation or delamination between the film layers.

[0081] Figure 6 In this embodiment, for example, at the end of the flexible display screen 1, the first film layer 171 protrudes relative to the second film layer 172, the second film layer 172 protrudes relative to the third film layer 173, and the third film layer 173 protrudes relative to the support member 16. The first adhesive layer 172, the second adhesive layer 174, and the fixing adhesive layer 18 deform. That is, the inner layer structure of the flexible display screen 1 is misaligned relative to the outer layer structure towards the end of the flexible display screen 1. The modulus of the first adhesive layer 172, the second adhesive layer 174, and the fixing adhesive layer 18 is less than the modulus of the first film layer 171, the second film layer 173, the third film layer 175, and the support member 16. In other words, the stiffness of these adhesive layers is less than the stiffness of the film layers and the stiffness of the support member 16. Through the deformation of these adhesive layers, the multiple film layers and the film layers and the support member 16 can be smoothly misaligned, thereby reducing the risk of film separation or delamination of the flexible display screen 1 and improving the reliability of the flexible display screen 1. Furthermore, since the support member 16 and the display panel 17 can be misaligned, the misalignment requirement between the inner layers of the display panel 17 can be reduced, making the display panel 17 easier to bend and more reliable.

[0082] Furthermore, in this embodiment, since the bending portion 10 of the flexible display screen 1 is bent into a teardrop shape, the bending portion 10 includes a first arc segment R1, a second arc segment R2, and a third arc segment R3 with their centers on the inner side of the flexible display screen 1, and also includes a fourth arc segment R4 and a fifth arc segment R5 with their centers on the outer side of the display screen. The teardrop shape makes the radii of the fourth arc segment R4 and the fifth arc segment R5 larger, thereby reducing the difference in bending radius between the inner and outer layer structures of the bending portion 10. This helps to reduce the misalignment distance required by the flexible display screen 1, making the flexible display screen 1 easier to bend and more reliable.

[0083] It is understood that in some other embodiments, the bending portion 10 of the flexible display screen 1 can be bent into other irregular shapes when the electronic device 100 is in a closed state by designing the position and shape of the first support plate 222 and the second support plate 223. This application does not strictly limit this.

[0084] Please see Figure 7 , Figure 7 yes Figure 6 The diagram shows another internal structure of the flexible display screen 1 in another usage state.

[0085] In some embodiments, the support member 16 includes a first metal plate 161, a second metal plate 162, and a third metal plate 163 arranged in sequence. The first metal plate 161 is located in the first non-bending portion 11, the second metal plate 162 is located in the first bending portion 12, the second bending portion 13, and the third bending portion 14, and the third metal plate 163 is located in the second non-bending portion 15. The second metal plate 162 is bendable.

[0086] In this embodiment, the support member 16 is a continuous metal plate. The first metal plate 161, the second metal plate 162, and the third metal plate 163 are all part of the support plate 16, thereby providing support for the display panel 17 and making the flexible display screen 1 structurally strong. The second metal plate 162 can be bent, which also allows the flexible display screen 1 to be bent smoothly.

[0087] In some embodiments, the second metal plate 162 has one or more perforations 1621. In this case, the structural strength of the second metal plate 162 is reduced, which helps to reduce the difficulty of bending and makes the flexible display screen 1 easier to bend, thereby improving the user experience.

[0088] For example, the adhesive layer 18 bonded between the display panel 17 and the support member 16 can partially fill one or more perforations 1621 in the second metal plate 162 to give the portion of the flexible display panel 17 located at the bending portion 10 better flatness.

[0089] In some other embodiments, the thickness of the second metal plate 162 is less than the thickness of the first metal plate 161 and less than the thickness of the third metal plate 163. In this case, the structural strength of the second metal plate 162 is reduced, which helps to reduce the difficulty of bending and makes the flexible display screen 1 easier to bend, thereby improving the user experience.

[0090] It is understood that the structural strength of the portion of the support member 16 located in the bent portion 10 of the flexible display screen 1 is lower, while the structural strength of the portion of the support member 16 located in the non-bent portion 10 of the flexible display screen 1 is higher. The support member 16 can have various design structures, and this application does not impose strict limitations on them.

[0091] In some other embodiments, the flexible display screen 1 may not have the support member 16 and the fixing adhesive layer 18, and the display panel 17 of the flexible display screen 1 may be fixed to the adhesive layer assembly 3.

[0092] In some embodiments, the flexible display screen 1 may also integrate touch functionality, generating touch signals based on user touch actions. For example, a touch layer is integrated within the display panel 17 to integrate display and touch functions. Alternatively, the flexible display screen 1 may further include a touch panel, which is stacked on top of the display panel 17 and may be located on the light-emitting side of the display panel 17.

[0093] In the embodiments of this application, the strong adhesive layer 31 and the weak adhesive layer 32 in the adhesive layer assembly 3 can have various embodiments, and the stiffness requirements can be achieved through material design and / or shape design. Examples are given below.

[0094] In some embodiments, the modulus of the strong adhesive layer 31 is greater than that of the weak adhesive layer 32. In the embodiments of this application, "modulus" is used to indicate the ability of a material to resist elastic deformation under stress. In this embodiment, the strong adhesive layer 31 is made of a material with a higher modulus, while the weak adhesive layer 32 is made of a material with a lower modulus, thereby making the stiffness of the strong adhesive layer 31 greater than that of the weak adhesive layer 32, so as to meet the bonding requirements between the flexible display screen 1 and the housing assembly 2.

[0095] For example, the strong adhesive layer 31 can be a double-sided adhesive material with a high modulus and a base material of polyethylene terephthalate; or, the strong adhesive layer 31 can also be a hot melt adhesive material with a high modulus. In some other embodiments, the strong adhesive layer 31 can also be made of other materials with high modulus.

[0096] For example, the weak adhesive layer 32 can be a double-sided adhesive material with a low modulus and a foam substrate; or, the weak adhesive layer 32 can also be a silicone material. In some other embodiments, the weak adhesive layer 32 can also be a substrate-free double-sided adhesive material with a low modulus. In some other embodiments, the weak adhesive layer 32 can also be an acrylic or rubber-based adhesive material with a low modulus. In some other embodiments, the weak adhesive layer 32 can also be other materials with a low modulus.

[0097] In some embodiments, such as Figure 3 As shown, the strong adhesive layer 31 is a continuous elongated strip. In this case, the area of ​​the strong adhesive layer 31 is relatively large, which helps to achieve greater rigidity to meet bonding requirements.

[0098] In some embodiments, such as Figure 3 As shown, the weak adhesive layer 32 can also adopt a continuous, full-surface structure, and the shape of the weak adhesive layer 32 varies with the shape of the supporting surface of the first housing 21 and the supporting surface of the second housing 23. In this case, the weak adhesive layer 32 can be made of a material with a smaller modulus so that its stiffness is less than that of the strong adhesive layer 31.

[0099] In other embodiments, the weak adhesive layer 32 includes one or more hollow areas to form a patterned structure. In this case, the stiffness of the weak adhesive layer 32 is lower than that of the strong adhesive layer 31 to meet the bonding requirements.

[0100] For example, please refer to Figure 8 , Figure 8 yes Figure 3 The structure of the weak adhesive layer 32 shown in some other embodiments.

[0101] The weak adhesive layer 32 includes a plurality of long adhesive strips 322 spaced apart from each other. A hollow area 321 is formed between two adjacent long adhesive strips 322. The plurality of long adhesive strips 322 can be arranged along the width direction X of the electronic device 100, and each long adhesive strip 322 extends along the length direction Y of the electronic device 100. In some other embodiments, the plurality of long adhesive strips 322 can also be arranged in other directions (e.g., the length direction Y of the electronic device 100), and each long adhesive strip 322 can also extend in other directions (e.g., the width direction X of the electronic device 100), which is not strictly limited in this application.

[0102] Among them, the long side 3221 of the long adhesive strip 322 is a straight line to reduce the manufacturing difficulty and cost of the long adhesive strip 322.

[0103] For example, please refer to Figure 9 , Figure 9 yes Figure 3 The structure of the weak adhesive layer 32 shown is in some other embodiments. The weak adhesive layer 32 in this embodiment includes most of the features of the weak adhesive layer 32 in the previous embodiments. The following mainly describes the differences between the two, and most of the same content will not be repeated.

[0104] The weak adhesive layer 32 includes a plurality of long adhesive strips (323a / 323b) spaced apart from each other. A hollow area 321 is formed between two adjacent long adhesive strips (323a / 323b). The two long sides 3231 of the middle long adhesive strip 323a are triangular wavy lines, and one long side 3232 of the two outer long adhesive strips 323b is triangular wavy. In some other embodiments, one or more sides of the long adhesive strips (323a / 323b) may be wavy. Some or all sides of the long adhesive strips (323a / 323b) may be wavy. In some other embodiments, the long sides of the long adhesive strips (323a / 323b) may also be arc-shaped wavy, rectangular wavy, etc.

[0105] For example, please refer to Figure 10 , Figure 10 yes Figure 3The structure of the weak adhesive layer 32 shown is in some other embodiments. The weak adhesive layer 32 in this embodiment includes most of the features of the weak adhesive layer 32 in the previous embodiments. The following mainly describes the differences between the two, and most of the same content will not be repeated.

[0106] The weak adhesive layer 32 includes a plurality of adhesive blocks 324 spaced apart from each other. A hollow area 321 is formed between two adjacent adhesive blocks 324. In this embodiment, the hollow area 321 of the weak adhesive layer 32 is one, which is roughly in the shape of a grid, and the hollow area 321 separates all the adhesive blocks 324.

[0107] The shape of the glue block 324 can be... Figure 10 The rectangle shown can also be a circle, ellipse, triangle, rhombus, or other regular or irregular shape; this application does not impose strict limitations on this.

[0108] In this embodiment, the multiple adhesive blocks 324 can be arranged in an array. In other embodiments, the multiple adhesive blocks 324 may also have other arrangement patterns or be arranged randomly.

[0109] For example, please refer to Figure 11 , Figure 11 yes Figure 3 The structure of the weak adhesive layer 32 shown is in some other embodiments. The weak adhesive layer 32 in this embodiment includes most of the features of the weak adhesive layer 32 in the previous embodiments. The following mainly describes the differences between the two, and most of the same content will not be repeated.

[0110] The weak adhesive layer 32 includes multiple first adhesive blocks 325 and multiple second adhesive blocks 326. The area of ​​the second adhesive blocks 326 is different from that of the first adhesive blocks 325. All the first adhesive blocks 325 and second adhesive blocks 326 are distributed alternately. A hollow area 321 is formed between two adjacent adhesive blocks (325, 326). In this embodiment, the hollow area 321 of the weak adhesive layer 32 is one, which is roughly in the shape of a grid, and the hollow area 321 separates all the adhesive blocks (325, 326).

[0111] The first adhesive block 325 and the second adhesive block 326 can be structures with the same shape but different sizes, or they can be structures with different shapes. This application does not strictly limit this. Figure 11 The rectangle shown can also be a circle, ellipse, triangle, rhombus, or other regular or irregular shape. This application does not strictly limit this.

[0112] For example, please refer to Figure 12 , Figure 12 yes Figure 3The structure of the weak adhesive layer 32 shown is in some other embodiments. The weak adhesive layer 32 in this embodiment includes most of the features of the weak adhesive layer 32 in the previous embodiments. The following mainly describes the differences between the two, and most of the same content will not be repeated.

[0113] The weak adhesive layer 32 has a grid structure. The weak adhesive layer 32 includes multiple spaced-apart perforated regions 321. These perforated regions 321 are arranged in an array. The shape of the perforated regions 321 can be... Figure 12 The rectangle shown can also be a circle, ellipse, triangle, rhombus, or other regular or irregular shape. This application does not strictly limit this.

[0114] In some other embodiments, the multiple hollow areas 321 of the weak adhesive layer 32 may also be arranged in other patterns or randomly.

[0115] For example, please refer to Figure 13 , Figure 13 yes Figure 3 The structure of the weak adhesive layer 32 shown is in some other embodiments. The weak adhesive layer 32 in this embodiment includes most of the features of the weak adhesive layer 32 in the previous embodiments. The following mainly describes the differences between the two, and most of the same content will not be repeated.

[0116] The weak adhesive layer 32 has a frame-shaped structure. The weak adhesive layer 32 includes a hollowed-out area 321 located in the center. The frame shape of the weak adhesive layer 32 follows the shape of the first non-bending portion 11 and the second non-bending portion 15 of the flexible display screen 1 (see...). Figure 3 The shape of the adhesive layer 32 varies. For example, if the first non-bent portion 11 is rectangular, then the weak adhesive layer 32 is a rectangular frame.

[0117] In some embodiments, the modulus of the strong adhesive layer 31 is equal to that of the weak adhesive layer 32, and the area of ​​the strong adhesive layer 31 is larger than that of the weak adhesive layer 32. In this case, the stiffness of the strong adhesive layer 31 is greater than that of the weak adhesive layer 32. The weak adhesive layer 32 may have a larger hollow area 321, making its area smaller than that of the strong adhesive layer 31.

[0118] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of the present invention, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention. In the absence of conflict, the embodiments and features in the embodiments of this application can be combined with each other. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. An electronic device, characterized in that, The device includes a first housing, a pivot assembly, and a second housing connected in sequence. The pivot assembly includes a pivot body, a first support plate, and a second support plate. The two ends of the pivot body are respectively fixed to the first housing and the second housing. The pivot body can deform to allow the first housing and the second housing to unfold or fold relative to each other. The first support plate and the second support plate are movably connected to the pivot body and are spaced apart from each other. The electronic device also includes a flexible display screen, two strong adhesive layers and two weak adhesive layers; The flexible display screen includes a first non-bending portion, a first bending portion, a second bending portion, a third bending portion, and a second non-bending portion arranged in sequence. Two weak adhesive layers are respectively bonded between the first non-bending portion and the first housing, and between the second non-bending portion and the second housing. Two strong adhesive layers are respectively bonded between the first bending portion and the first support plate, and between the third bending portion and the second support plate. When the first housing and the second housing are folded to a closed state, the second support plate and the first support plate move away from each other in a direction close to the middle of the rotating shaft body, so that the first bent part, the second bent part and the third bent part are bent together into a teardrop shape, and the stiffness of the strong adhesive layer is greater than the stiffness of the weak adhesive layer. The strong adhesive layer uses double-sided adhesive material or hot melt adhesive material with polyethylene terephthalate as the substrate. The weak adhesive layer is made of double-sided adhesive material with foam as the substrate, silicone material, double-sided adhesive material without substrate, acrylic adhesive material, or rubber adhesive material.

2. The electronic device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The strong adhesive layer and the weak adhesive layer are spaced apart; When the first housing and the second housing are folded together to a closed state, the distance between the two weak adhesive layers is less than the distance between the two strong adhesive layers.

3. The electronic device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The flexible display screen includes a support member and a display panel stacked together. The support member is used to bond the strong adhesive layer and the weak adhesive layer. The support member includes a first metal plate, a second metal plate, and a third metal plate arranged in sequence. The first metal plate is located in the first non-bending portion, the second metal plate is located in the first bending portion, the second bending portion, and the third bending portion, and the third metal plate is located in the second non-bending portion. The second metal plate is bendable. The thickness of the second metal plate is less than the thickness of the first metal plate and less than the thickness of the third metal plate; or, the second metal plate has one or more perforated holes.

4. The electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The strong adhesive layer is in the form of a continuous elongated strip.

5. The electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The weak adhesive layer includes one or more hollow areas to form a patterned structure.

6. The electronic device according to claim 5, characterized in that, The weak adhesive layer has a frame-shaped structure; or... The weak adhesive layer is a grid structure; or... The weak adhesive layer comprises multiple long adhesive strips spaced apart from each other; or, The weak adhesive layer comprises multiple adhesive blocks spaced apart from each other; or, The weak adhesive layer includes a plurality of first adhesive blocks and a plurality of second adhesive blocks, wherein the area of ​​the second adhesive blocks is different from the area of ​​the first adhesive blocks, and all the first adhesive blocks and the second adhesive blocks are distributed at intervals.

7. The electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The modulus of the strong adhesive layer is equal to that of the weak adhesive layer, and the area of ​​the strong adhesive layer is greater than that of the weak adhesive layer.

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