Flexible display device

Abstract

An embodiment of the present application provides a flexible display device, including pixel units, and the edges of the pixel units are smooth curves. When the flexible display device is continuously bent, stress can be released to avoid cracks, thereby increasing the service life of the flexible display device.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of display technologies, and particularly to a flexible display device. Background Art

[0002] With the development of display technologies, consumers' demands for display devices have become increasingly diverse. Flexible display devices not only have the advantages of traditional display devices, such as low power consumption, high brightness, thin and light volume, fast response speed, etc., but also have advantages such as bendability and portability, and have broad application prospects.

[0003] However, during the continuous bending process of a flexible display device, stress concentration is likely to occur, resulting in cracks, and thus abnormal light emission phenomena, reducing the service life of the flexible display device. Summary of the Invention

[0004] An embodiment of the present application provides a flexible display device, which can release stress during the continuous bending process, avoid the occurrence of cracks, and thus increase the service life of the flexible display device.

[0005] An embodiment of the present application provides a flexible display device, including pixel units, and the edges of the pixel units are smooth curves.

[0006] In some embodiments, the pixel unit includes a plurality of light-emitting regions and a first bank structure surrounding the peripheries of the plurality of light-emitting regions, and the first bank structure is a smooth curve.

[0007] In some embodiments, the pixel unit further includes a plurality of second bank structures, and each second bank structure is disposed between two rows or two columns of light-emitting regions of different colors, and each second bank structure is a smooth curve.

[0008] In some embodiments, the curvature of any position of each second bank structure is the same as the corresponding position of an adjacent second bank structure.

[0009] In some embodiments, the pixel unit further includes a plurality of third bank structures, and the plurality of second bank structures and the plurality of third bank structures intersect to form a plurality of pixel regions, and each light-emitting region is disposed in one of the pixel regions.

[0010] In some embodiments, the included angle formed by the intersection of the second bank structure and the third bank structure is an obtuse angle.

[0011] In some embodiments, the pixel unit further includes a plurality of fourth bank structures, and each fourth bank structure surrounds the periphery of one of the light-emitting regions.

[0012] In some embodiments, the pixel unit further includes a plurality of anode signal regions, each of the anode signal regions is disposed on one side of a corresponding light-emitting region, and the edge of each anode signal region is a smooth curve.

[0013] In some embodiments, the flexible display device further includes a plurality of capacitive regions, and the edges of the plurality of capacitive regions are smooth curves.

[0014] In some embodiments, the flexible display device further includes a plurality of black matrix regions, and the edges of the plurality of black matrix regions are smooth curves.

[0015] The flexible display device provided by the embodiments of the present application includes a pixel unit, and the edge of the pixel unit is a smooth curve. It can be understood that the flexible display device has two states during use: a folded state and an unfolded state. When the flexible display device is in the process of changing from the folded state to the unfolded state or from the unfolded state to the folded state, since the edge of the pixel unit is a smooth curve, the degree of stress concentration during the folding process is small, so that cracks are not likely to appear on the edge of the pixel unit, thereby increasing the service life of the flexible display device. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application, the following will briefly introduce the drawings required for the description of the embodiments. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments of the present application, and those skilled in the art can obtain other drawings based on these drawings without creative efforts.

[0017] Figure 1 FIG. 1 is a first schematic structural diagram of the flexible display device provided by the embodiments of the present application.

[0018] Figure 2 FIG. 2 is a second schematic structural diagram of the flexible display device provided by the embodiments of the present application.

[0019] Figure 3 FIG. 3 is a third schematic structural diagram of the flexible display device provided by the embodiments of the present application.

[0020] Figure 4 FIG. 4 is a fourth schematic structural diagram of the flexible display device provided by the embodiments of the present application.

[0021] Figure 5 FIG. 5 is a fifth schematic structural diagram of the flexible display device provided by the embodiments of the present application.

[0022] Figure 6 FIG. 6 is a sixth schematic structural diagram of the flexible display device provided by the embodiments of the present application. Detailed implementation manners

[0023] Next, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be clearly and completely described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present application. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present application, rather than all the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in the present application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative efforts belong to the scope of protection of the present application.

[0024] Please refer to Figure 1 , Figure 1 which is the first structural schematic diagram of the flexible display device provided by the embodiment of the present application.

[0025] The flexible display device 100 provided by the embodiment of the present application includes a pixel unit 10, and the edge of the pixel unit 10 is a smooth curve. It can be understood that the flexible display device 100 has two states during use: a folded state and an unfolded state. When the flexible display device 100 is in the process of changing from the folded state to the unfolded state or from the unfolded state to the folded state, since the edge of the pixel unit 10 is a smooth curve, the stress concentration degree during folding or opening is small, so that cracks are not likely to appear at the edge of the pixel unit 10, thereby increasing the service life of the flexible display device 100.

[0026] In some embodiments, please continue to refer to Figure 1 , the pixel unit 10 of the flexible display device 100 includes a plurality of light-emitting regions 11 and a first bank (isolation column) structure 12 surrounding the plurality of light-emitting regions 11, and the first bank structure 12 is a smooth curve.

[0027] It can be understood that the first bank structure 12 can be used to divide the pixel unit area. Since there can be a plurality of light-emitting regions 11 in the pixel unit area, the first bank structure 12 is provided around the plurality of light-emitting regions 11, and the first bank structure 12 is a smooth curve. When the flexible display device 100 is in the process of changing from the folded state to the unfolded state or from the unfolded state to the folded state, the first bank structure 12 surrounding the plurality of light-emitting regions 11 presents a smooth curve, and the stress concentration degree during folding or opening is small, so that cracks are not likely to appear in the first bank structure 12.

[0028] In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 2 , Figure 2 which is the second structural schematic diagram of the flexible display device provided by the embodiment of the present application. The light-emitting region 11 further includes a plurality of second bank structures 13, and each second bank structure 13 is disposed between two rows or two columns of light-emitting regions 11 of different colors, and each second bank structure 13 is a smooth curve.

[0029] Among them, the second bank structure 13 is disposed between two rows or two columns of light-emitting regions 11 of different colors, such as a row of red pixel units and a row of blue pixel units. The second bank structure 13 is disposed between a row of red pixel units and a row of blue pixel units, so that the second bank structure 13 can avoid color mixing between the red pixel units and the blue pixel units. The second bank structure 13 presents a smooth curve, and the stress concentration degree during the folding or unfolding process of the flexible display device 100 is small, so that the second bank structure 13 is not likely to have cracks.

[0030] In some embodiments, the curvature of any position of each second bank structure 13 is the same as that of the corresponding position of the adjacent second bank structure 13.

[0031] Among them, the curvature of any position of each second bank structure 13 is the same as that of the corresponding position of the adjacent second bank structure 13, so that the distance between any position of each second bank structure 13 and the corresponding position of the adjacent second bank structure 13 is the same. For example, the curvature of a certain position of one second bank structure 13 is 0.5, and the curvature of the position parallel to this position of another second bank structure 13 is also 0.5. It can be understood that the same curvature of two adjacent second bank structures 13 can effectively ensure that the areas of the regions accommodating the light-emitting regions 11 are the same.

[0032] In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 3 , Figure 3 which is the third schematic structural diagram of the flexible display device provided by the embodiment of the present application. The pixel unit 10 further includes a plurality of third bank structures 14. The plurality of second bank structures 13 and the plurality of third bank structures 14 intersect to form a plurality of pixel regions, and each light-emitting region 11 is disposed in a pixel region. For example, the plurality of second bank structures 13 and the plurality of third bank structures 14 intersect to form a grid shape, so that each light-emitting region 11 is disposed in a grid. Among them, the third bank structure 14 is set as a smooth curve and surrounds each pixel unit together with the plurality of second bank structures 13, which can not only avoid the small stress concentration degree during the folding or unfolding process of the flexible display device 100, so that the third bank structure 14 is not likely to have cracks, but also avoid color mixing between the light-emitting regions 11.

[0033] Among them, any position of each third bank structure 14 has the same curvature as the corresponding position of the adjacent third bank structure 14, so that the distance between any position of each third bank structure 14 and the corresponding position of the adjacent third bank structure 14 is the same. For example, the curvature of a certain position of one of the third bank structures 14 is 0.5, and the curvature of the position parallel to this position of another third bank structure 14 is also 0.5. It can be understood that the same curvature of two adjacent third bank structures 14 can effectively ensure that the areas of the pixel regions accommodating the light-emitting regions 11 are the same.

[0034] In some embodiments, the included angle formed by the intersection of the second bank structure 13 and the third bank structure 14 is an obtuse angle. It can be understood that when the second bank structure 13 intersects with the third bank structure 14 to form an obtuse angle, abnormal light emission of the flexible display device 100 can be prevented.

[0035] In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 4 , Figure 4 which is the fourth structural schematic diagram of the flexible display device provided by the embodiment of the present application. The light-emitting region further includes a plurality of fourth bank structures 15, and each fourth bank structure 15 surrounds the periphery of a pixel unit. The light-emitting region 11 can be a blue pixel unit, a red pixel unit, or a green pixel unit. Since the fourth bank structure 15 is provided around each light-emitting region 11, the fourth bank structure 15 can be divided into three cases: the fourth bank structure 15 surrounding the blue pixel unit, the fourth bank structure 15 surrounding the red pixel unit, and the fourth bank structure 15 surrounding the green pixel unit.

[0036] In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 5 , Figure 5 which is the fifth structural schematic diagram of the flexible display device provided by the embodiment of the present application. The pixel unit 10 further includes a plurality of anode signal regions 20, each anode signal region 20 is disposed on one side of a light-emitting region 11, and the edge of each anode signal region 20 is a smooth curve. Among them, each anode signal region 20 provides a voltage signal for a light-emitting region 11, and the edge of each anode signal region 20 is a smooth curve, so that the degree of stress concentration during the folding or opening process of the flexible display device 100 is small, the stress on the anode signal region 20 is small, and cracks are not likely to occur.

[0037] In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 6 , Figure 6This is the fifth structural schematic diagram of the flexible display device provided by the embodiments of the present application. The flexible display device 100 further includes a capacitive region 30, and the edge of the capacitive region 30 is a smooth curve. Among them, the potential of the light-emitting region 11 is coupled through the corresponding capacitive region 30, and the feed-through effect can be used to further raise or lower it, thereby improving the panel charge and discharge performance of the flexible display device 100, and increasing the service life of the flexible display device 100.

[0038] In some embodiments, the flexible display device 100 further includes a black matrix (BM) region, which is disposed on one side of the pixel unit 10, and the edge of the black matrix region is a smooth curve. Specifically, the black matrix region can be disposed not only above the second bank structure 13 and the third bank structure 14 to avoid light leakage of the pixel unit 10, but also above the bank structures at other positions. It can be understood that with the development of OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) display technology, the performance of the flexible display device 100 is getting better and better. In the process of manufacturing the flexible display device 100, an inkjet printing technology is adopted. Since the monochromatic light prepared by the inkjet printing technology has impure color, a color filter needs to be added to the inkjet printing device to improve the color purity of the light-emitting region 11. Adding the color filter will cause an increase in the aperture ratio of the light-emitting region 11, resulting in light leakage between the light-emitting regions 11. Currently, a black matrix region is generally disposed between the light-emitting regions 11 to avoid color mixing between the light-emitting regions 11.

[0039] In some embodiments, when the black matrix region is disposed above the second bank structure 13 and the third bank structure 14, the curvature of any position on the edge of the black matrix region is the same as that of the corresponding position of the adjacent second bank structure 13 or third bank structure 14, so that the distance between any position on the edge of the black matrix region and the corresponding position of the adjacent second bank structure 13 or third bank structure 14 is the same.

[0040] In some embodiments, the flexible display device 100 further includes an active layer, a gate insulating layer, an interlayer insulating layer, a passivation layer, and an organic planarization layer. Among them, the edges of the active layer, the gate insulating layer, the interlayer insulating layer, the passivation layer, or the organic planarization layer are smooth curves. Since it is a smooth curve, the stress concentration degree during the folding or opening process is small, cracks are not likely to appear, and the display state is good.

[0041] Specifically, the active layer includes a source region and a drain region formed by doping N-type impurity ions or P-type impurity ions. The region between the source region and the drain region is the channel region. The active layer can be made of amorphous silicon material, polycrystalline silicon material, metal oxide material, etc. When the active layer is made of polycrystalline silicon material, it can be formed by low-temperature amorphous silicon technology, that is, the amorphous silicon material is melted into polycrystalline silicon material by this laser. In addition, it can also be formed by various methods such as rapid thermal annealing (RTA) method, solid-phase crystallization (SPC) method, excimer laser annealing (ELA) method, metal-induced crystallization (MIC) method, metal-induced lateral crystallization (MILC) method or continuous lateral solidification (SLS) method.

[0042] The gate insulating layer includes inorganic layers such as silicon oxide and silicon nitride, and can include a single layer or multiple layers. The gate is located on the gate insulating layer. The gate can include a single layer or multiple layers of gold (Au), silver (Ag), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd), aluminum (Al), molybdenum (MO) or chromium (Cr), or alloys such as aluminum (Al): neodymium (Nd) alloy and molybdenum (MO): tungsten (W) alloy.

[0043] The interlayer insulating layer is located on the gate. The interlayer insulating layer can be formed by an insulating inorganic layer such as silicon oxide or silicon nitride. Optionally, the interlayer insulating layer can be formed by an insulating organic layer. Both the source and the drain belong to the source-drain metal layer. The source and the drain are located on the interlayer insulating layer. The source and the drain are electrically connected to the source region and the drain region respectively through contact holes penetrating the gate insulating layer and the interlayer insulating layer. The source and the drain can include a single layer or multiple layers of gold (Au), silver (Ag), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd), aluminum (Al), molybdenum (MO) or chromium (Cr), or alloys such as aluminum (Al): neodymium (Nd) alloy and molybdenum (MO): tungsten (W) alloy.

[0044] The passivation layer is located on the source and the drain. The passivation layer can be formed by an inorganic layer such as silicon oxide or silicon nitride or by an organic layer.

[0045] The organic planarization layer is located on the passivation layer. The organic planarization layer can be formed by an organic layer such as acrylic, polyimide (PI) or benzocyclobutene (BCB). The organic planarization layer has a planarizing effect.

[0046] The embodiment of the present application also provides a preparation method of a flexible display device 100. In order to make the edge of the pixel unit 10 present a smooth curve, a smooth curve can be formed by an etching process.

[0047] The flexible display device 100 provided by the embodiments of the present application. The display device includes a pixel unit 10, and the edge of the pixel unit 10 is a smooth curve. It can be understood that the flexible display device 100 has two states during use: a folded state and an unfolded state. When the flexible display device 100 is in the process of changing from the folded state to the unfolded state or from the unfolded state to the folded state, since the edge of the pixel unit 10 is a smooth curve, the degree of stress concentration during folding or opening is small, so that cracks are not likely to appear at the edge of the pixel unit 10, thereby increasing the service life of the flexible display device 100.

[0048] In the above embodiments, the descriptions of the various embodiments have their own emphases. For the parts not detailed in a certain embodiment, reference may be made to the relevant descriptions of other embodiments.

[0049] In the description of the present application, the terms "first" and "second" are only used for descriptive purposes and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the quantity of the indicated technical features. Thus, the features defined with "first" and "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more features.

[0050] The flexible display device provided by the embodiments of the present application has been introduced in detail above. Specific examples are used herein to elaborate on the principle and implementation manner of the present application. The description of the above embodiments is only used to help understand the present application. At the same time, for those skilled in the art, according to the idea of the present application, there will be changes in the specific implementation manner and application scope. In summary, the content of this specification should not be construed as a limitation to the present application.

Claims

1. A flexible display device, characterized in that, Including pixel units, the edges of which are smooth curves; The pixel unit includes: A plurality of light-emitting regions; A first bank structure surrounding the periphery of the plurality of light-emitting regions, the first bank structure being a smooth curve; A plurality of second bank structures, each of the second bank structures being disposed between two rows or two columns of light-emitting regions of different colors, each of the second bank structures being a smooth curve; and A plurality of third bank structures, the plurality of second bank structures and the plurality of third bank structures intersecting to form a plurality of pixel regions, each of the light-emitting regions being disposed in one of the pixel regions; Wherein, the included angle formed by the intersection of the second bank structure and the third bank structure is an obtuse angle.

2. The flexible display device according to claim 1, wherein The curvature of any position of each second bank structure is the same as the corresponding position of the adjacent second bank structure.

3. The flexible display device according to claim 1, wherein The pixel unit further includes a plurality of fourth bank structures, each of the fourth bank structures surrounding the periphery of one of the light-emitting regions.

4. The flexible display device according to claim 1, wherein The pixel unit further includes a plurality of anode signal regions, each of the anode signal regions being disposed on one side of one of the light-emitting regions, and the edges of each of the anode signal regions being smooth curves.

5. The flexible display device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that It further includes a plurality of capacitor regions, the edges of the plurality of capacitor regions being smooth curves.

6. The flexible display device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, It further includes a plurality of black matrix regions, the edges of the plurality of black matrix regions being smooth curves.

Images