Flexible display device

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a flexible display device, comprising a flexible display module, the flexible display module including a flexible functional layer, the flexible functional layer including a first functional region and a second functional region adjacently arranged along a sliding direction, the orthographic projection of the flexible display substrate on the flexible functional layer being located in the first functional region, and a transition structure being provided on a side of the flexible functional layer that is close to or remote from the flexible display substrate, the orthographic projection of the transition structure on the flexible functional layer being located in the second functional region. By applying a force to the transition structure connected to the flexible functional layer and to the flexible functional layer, the tension of the adhesive layer transmitted to the flexible display panel is reduced, and the bending and creep of the adhesive layer are reduced, thereby effectively improving creases and bulges of the flexible display panel and significantly enhancing the flatness of the flexible display module, resulting in a good visual effect on the surface and a better customer experience.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to the field of display technology, and in particular to a flexible display device. Background Art

[0002] The sliding display device allows consumers to switch the display area of the flexible panel at will according to their needs, providing users with a user experience that is superior to that of the folding display panel. It is an important direction in the development of flexible display panels.

[0003] The flexible module can be rolled up on a sliding scroll. The adhesive layer in the flexible display panel will maintain a certain curved shape due to bending creep, which in turn causes a curvature to appear on the surface of the flexible display panel, seriously affecting its appearance and resulting in a poor customer experience.

[0004] It should be noted that the information disclosed in the above background technology section is only used to enhance the understanding of the background of the present disclosure, and therefore may include information that does not constitute prior art known to ordinary technicians in the field. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The present disclosure aims to provide a flexible display device that can improve the problem of bending curvature of a flexible display module when it is rolled up on a scroll.

[0006] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a flexible display device is provided, comprising a scroll and a flexible display module, the scroll being capable of rotating about its axis; the flexible display module comprising a flexible display panel and a transfer structure, the flexible display panel comprising a flexible display substrate and a flexible functional layer, the flexible display substrate cooperating with the scroll, the flexible functional layer being arranged on a side of the flexible display substrate away from the scroll, the transfer structure being arranged on a side of the flexible functional layer close to or away from the flexible display substrate, the flexible functional layer comprising a first functional area and a second functional area adjacently arranged along a scrolling direction, the orthographic projection of the flexible display substrate on the flexible functional layer being located in the first functional area, and the orthographic projection of the transfer structure on the flexible functional layer being located in the second functional area.

[0007] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the flexible functional layer includes a flexible cover plate, the flexible cover plate includes a first cover plate portion and a second cover plate portion adjacent to each other along the sliding direction, the first cover plate portion is located in the first functional area, the second cover plate portion is located in the second functional area, the flexible display substrate is arranged on the first cover plate portion, and the transfer structure is arranged on the second cover plate portion.

[0008] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the flexible functional layer includes a polarizer and a flexible cover plate that are sequentially away from the sliding axis, the polarizer includes a first polarizer and a second polarizer that are adjacently arranged along the sliding direction, the first polarizer is located in the first functional area, and the second polarizer is located in the second functional area. The flexible display substrate is arranged on the first polarizer, and the transition structure is arranged on the second polarizer.

[0009] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the flexible display panel further includes a second buffer layer and a support layer. The second buffer layer is provided on a side of the flexible display substrate close to the scroll shaft, and the support layer is provided on a side of the second buffer layer close to the scroll shaft.

[0010] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, a plurality of limiting protrusions evenly arranged along the sliding direction are provided on one side of the support layer close to the sliding shaft.

[0011] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the transition structure is provided on a side close to the flexible display substrate, and the thickness of the transition structure is greater than the sum of the thicknesses of the support layer and the second buffer layer.

[0012] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the transition structure includes a force-bearing portion, which is provided on a side of the flexible functional layer close to the flexible display substrate.

[0013] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the transition structure includes a filling portion, which is arranged between the flexible functional layer and the force-bearing portion. The filling portion includes at least two filling layers, and adjacent two filling layers are arranged at intervals. Each adjacent two filling layers are bonded together by a second adhesive layer.

[0014] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the filling layer is a metal layer or an optical film layer.

[0015] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the number of the force-bearing portions is at least two, and the at least two force-bearing portions are evenly arranged along a first direction, and the first direction is a width direction of the flexible display panel.

[0016] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the flexible cover plate includes at least two sub-cover plate layers, and two adjacent sub-cover plate layers are bonded together by a third adhesive layer.

[0017] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the flexible display device also includes a fixed shell, a sliding shell and a guide shaft. The guide shaft and the sliding scroll shaft are arranged on the sliding shell at intervals along the second direction. The sliding scroll shaft and the guide shaft are parallel to each other. The second direction is perpendicular to the first direction. The transfer structure is fixed on the guide shaft, and one end of the flexible display module away from the transfer structure along the sliding direction is fixed to the fixed shell.

[0018] The flexible display device disclosed herein includes a flexible display module, which includes a flexible functional layer. The flexible functional layer includes a first functional area and a second functional area adjacently arranged along a sliding direction. The orthographic projection of the flexible display substrate on the flexible functional layer is located in the first functional area. A transition structure is provided on a side of the flexible functional layer that is close to or away from the flexible display substrate, and the orthographic projection of the transition structure on the flexible functional layer is located in the second functional area. By applying a force to the transition structure connected to the flexible functional layer and to the flexible functional layer, the tension transmitted to the adhesive layer of the flexible display panel is reduced, and the bending and creep of the adhesive layer are reduced. Thus, creases and bulges of the flexible display panel can be effectively improved, and the flatness of the flexible display module is significantly improved, resulting in a good visual effect on the surface and a better customer experience.

[0019] It is to be understood that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the disclosure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] The accompanying drawings are incorporated into and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with the present disclosure, and together with the specification, are used to explain the principles of the present disclosure. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present disclosure, and those skilled in the art can derive other drawings based on these drawings without inventive effort.

[0021] Figure 1 Schematic cross-sectional view of a flexible display module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0022] Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the unfolding process of the flexible display panel involved in the embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0023] Figure 3 Schematic diagram of the rolling process of the flexible display panel involved in the embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0024] Figure 4 Schematic diagram of the structure of the flexible display device involved in the embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0025] Figure 5 It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of another flexible display module involved in an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0026] Figure 6 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of another flexible display module involved in an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0027] Figure 7 2 is a plan view of a flexible display module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0028] Figure 8This is a schematic structural diagram of the filling portion involved in an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0029] Figure 9 Schematic diagram of the structure of the flexible cover involved in the embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0030] Figure 10 Schematic diagram of the structure of the flexible display substrate involved in the embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0031] In the figure: 1-flexible display panel, 10, flexible display substrate, 101-planar part, 102-sliding part; 11, base substrate, 12, first buffer layer, 13, driving circuit layer, 131, active layer, 1311-channel region, 1312, source region, 1313, drain region, 132, first gate insulating layer, 133, first gate, 134, interlayer insulating layer, 135, first source, 136, drain, 137, protective layer, 138, second source, 14, planarization layer group, 141, first planarization layer, 142, second planarization layer, 15, pixel defining layer, 16, sub-pixel, 161, pixel electrode, 162, light-emitting layer, 163, common electrode, 17, encapsulation layer, 17 1. First inorganic encapsulation layer, 172. Organic encapsulation layer, 173. Second inorganic encapsulation layer, 18-Touch layer; 20. Flexible functional layer, 201. Flexible cover plate, 2011. Sub-cover plate layer, 2012. Third adhesive layer, 202. Polarizer, 2021-First pressure-sensitive adhesive layer, 203. First adhesive layer, 2001. First functional area, 2002. Second functional area, 30. Second buffer layer, 301-Second pressure-sensitive adhesive layer, 40. Support layer, 401. Limiting protrusion, 2. Transfer structure, 21. Filling part, 211. Filling layer, 212. Second adhesive layer, 22. Force-bearing part, 3. Fixed shell, 4. Sliding shell, 5. Winding mechanism, 51. Sliding scroll, 52. Guide shaft, 53. Tensioning member. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the example embodiments can be implemented in many forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete and will fully convey the concepts of the example embodiments to those skilled in the art. Like reference numerals in the figures represent identical or similar structures, and thus their detailed descriptions will be omitted. Furthermore, the figures are merely schematic illustrations of the present disclosure and are not necessarily drawn to scale.

[0033] Although relative terms such as "upper" and "lower" are used in this specification to describe the relationship of one illustrated component to another, these terms are used herein for convenience only, such as in accordance with the orientation of the illustrations in the accompanying drawings. It will be understood that if the illustrated device were flipped upside down, the component described as "upper" would become the component "lower." When a structure is referred to as "on" another structure, this may mean that the structure is integrally formed with the other structure, that the structure is "directly" disposed on the other structure, or that the structure is "indirectly" disposed on the other structure via the other structure.

[0034] The terms "a", "an", "the", "said" and "at least one" are used to indicate the presence of one or more elements / components / etc.; the terms "including" and "having" are used to express open-ended inclusion and mean that additional elements / components / etc. may be present in addition to the listed elements / components / etc.; the terms "first", "second" and "third" etc. are used only as labels and are not intended to limit the quantity of their objects.

[0035] The display device includes an entire housing and a flexible screen disposed on the entire housing. One end of the flexible display panel serves as a fixed end, which is fixed to the entire housing, and the other end serves as a sliding end, which is also fixed to the entire housing, so as to achieve translational curling, unfolding, and retraction of the flexible display panel. The flexible display panel can partially bend and unfold on the sliding scroll. During the retraction process of the sliding scroll, when the flexible display panel is just separated from the sliding scroll, the adhesive in the flexible display panel is subjected to bending creep, causing it to maintain a certain curved shape, resulting in a curved arc on the flexible display panel. The curved arc will vary depending on the tension provided by the entire device. The curved arc that occurs in the flexible module during the curling and unfolding process seriously affects the appearance of the product, resulting in a poor performance experience for customers.

[0036] In order to support itself, flexible display panels are usually designed to be thicker. However, the thicker the flexible display panel is, the greater the rebound force and warping will be after it is wound on the scroll, which will also affect the appearance of the flexible display device and make the customer experience worse. Figure 1 As shown, along the direction away from the sliding scroll 51, the flexible display panel 1 generally includes a support layer 40, a second buffer layer 30, a flexible display substrate 10, a polarizer 202, a first adhesive layer 203 and a flexible cover plate 201, and the sliding end of the flexible display panel 1 can be connected to the entire machine housing through the adapter structure 2.

[0037] In the process of rolling, it is mainly divided into rolling and unrolling, and its main process is as follows: Figure 2 and Figure 3When the external tension (motor force) is greater than the internal tension of the entire sliding housing, the scroll rotates, driving the flexible display panel to unfold. During this process, the external tension (motor force) exerts a greater effect, causing the scroll to move in a first direction. The flexible display panel fits tightly against the scroll, resulting in a small bulge in the flexible display panel. During the retraction of the flexible screen, the direction of the external tension (motor force) is the same as the direction of the internal tension. When the external tension drives the scroll to retract, the internal tension of the entire sliding housing drives the flexible display panel to rewind around the scroll. A bulge occurs within a range of 5-10 mm at point A, with a bulge of 1-3 mm, affecting the appearance of the flexible display device.

[0038] Based on this, the present disclosure provides a flexible display device. Figures 4 to 10 As shown, the flexible display device includes a scroll 51 and a flexible display module, and the scroll 51 can rotate around its axis; the flexible display module includes a flexible display panel 1 and a transfer structure 2, the flexible display panel 1 includes a flexible display substrate 10 and a flexible functional layer 20, the flexible display substrate 10 cooperates with the scroll 51, the flexible functional layer 20 is arranged on the side of the flexible display substrate 10 away from the scroll 51, the flexible functional layer 20 includes a first functional area 2001 and a second functional area 2002 adjacently arranged along the sliding direction, the orthographic projection of the flexible display substrate 10 on the flexible functional layer 20 is located in the first functional area 2001, the transfer structure 2 is provided on the side of the flexible functional layer 20 close to or away from the flexible display substrate 10, and the orthographic projection of the transfer structure 2 on the flexible functional layer 20 is located in the second functional area 2002.

[0039] The orthographic projection of the flexible display substrate 10 on the flexible functional layer 20 is located in the first functional area 2001. The transfer structure 2 is provided on the side of the flexible functional layer 20 that is close to or away from the flexible display substrate 10, and the orthographic projection of the transfer structure 2 on the flexible functional layer 20 is located in the second functional area 2002. By applying a force to the transfer structure 2 connected to the flexible functional layer 20, and by applying a force to the flexible functional layer 20, the tension transmitted to the adhesive layer of the flexible display panel 1 is reduced, and the bending and creep of the adhesive layer are reduced, thereby effectively improving the creases and arches of the flexible display panel.

[0040] In addition, compared with the entire flexible display panel, the thickness of the flexible functional layer 20 is smaller, which reduces the rebound force of the flexible display module, reduces the warping amount, and significantly improves the flatness of the flexible display module, making the surface visual effect good and providing a better customer experience.

[0041] It is understandable that, compared with the method of directly disposing the adapter structure 2 on the flexible functional layer 20 , the area of the flexible display substrate 10 can also be reduced, and the power consumption during the display process can be reduced.

[0042] like Figure 4 As shown, the flexible display device includes a fixed housing 3, a sliding housing 4, a flexible display module and a winding mechanism 5. The fixed housing 3 and the sliding housing 4 provide support for the flexible display panel 1, and the sliding housing 4 can slide relative to the fixed housing 3.

[0043] The flexible display panel 1 includes a planar portion 101 and a sliding portion 102, which are connected to the planar portion 101. Both the sliding portion 102 and the planar portion 101 of the flexible display panel 1 can be used to display images. The display device also includes a reeling mechanism 5, which is located within the sliding housing 4. The planar portion 101 is connected to the fixed housing 3, and the reeling mechanism 5 is used to reel in the sliding portion 102 within the sliding housing 4.

[0044] The winding mechanism 5 includes a sliding reel 51, a guide shaft 52, and a tensioning member 53. Both the sliding reel 51 and the guide shaft 52 are connected to the sliding housing 4. The guide shaft 52 and the sliding reel 51 are spaced apart and parallel to each other along a second direction, which is the length of the flexible display panel 1. The middle portion of the sliding portion 102 surrounds the reel and is slidably connected to the sliding reel 51. The other end of the sliding portion 102 is connected to one end of the tensioning member 53, and the other end of the tensioning member 53 is connected to the fixed housing 3. The middle portion of the tensioning member 53 surrounds the outer wall of the guide shaft 52 and is slidably connected to the guide shaft 52.

[0045] In other feasible embodiments, the winding mechanism 5 may include a sliding scroll 51 and an elastic connector, and the flexible display module may be partially slidably mounted on the sliding scroll 51 , and the adapter structure 2 may be connected to the sliding housing 4 via the elastic connector.

[0046] like Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, the flexible display panel 1 includes a supporting layer 40, a second buffer layer 30, a flexible display substrate 10 and a flexible functional layer 20, a first adhesive layer 203 and a flexible cover plate 201. In the sliding portion 102 of the flexible display panel 1, the supporting layer 40 is arranged close to the sliding shaft 51, the second buffer layer 30 is arranged on the side of the supporting layer 40 away from the sliding shaft 51, the flexible display substrate 10 is arranged on the side of the second buffer layer 30 away from the sliding shaft 51, and the flexible functional layer 20 is arranged on the side of the flexible display substrate 10 away from the sliding shaft 51.

[0047] A plurality of stopper protrusions 401 are provided on the support layer 40 on one side near the scroll shaft 51, evenly spaced along the scrolling direction. The stopper protrusions 401 provide support for the flexible display panel 1, particularly providing stable support for the scroll portion 102 engaged with the scroll shaft 51. This eliminates the momentary arching of the flexible display panel 1 during rewinding, preventing sagging and creases from occurring over time, and thus extending the service life of the display module.

[0048] The flexible display module also includes a transition structure 2, which is disposed on the side of the flexible functional layer 20 that is close to or away from the flexible display substrate 10. The transition structure 2 is located at the other end of the sliding portion 102, which is connected to one end of the tensioning member 53 via the transition structure 2. The flexible functional layer 20 includes a first functional area 2001 and a second functional area 2002 adjacent to each other along the sliding direction. The orthographic projection of the flexible display substrate 10 on the flexible functional layer 20 is located in the first functional area 2001, and the orthographic projection of the transition structure 2 on the flexible functional layer 20 is located in the second functional area 2002.

[0049] The flexible functional layer 20 may include a flexible cover plate 201, a first adhesive layer 203, and a polarizer 202. The polarizer 202 is connected to the flexible cover plate 201 via the first adhesive layer 203. It should be noted that the polarizer 202 is provided on the side of the flexible display substrate 10 away from the scroll 51, the first adhesive layer 203 is provided on the side of the polarizer 202 away from the scroll 51, and the flexible cover plate 201 is provided on the side of the first adhesive layer 203 away from the scroll 51.

[0050] like Figure 5 As shown, the orthographic projection of the polarizer 202 on the flexible cover 201 is located in the first functional area 2001. The flexible cover 201 includes a first cover portion and a second cover portion adjacently arranged along the sliding direction. The first cover portion is located in the first functional area 2001, and the second cover portion is located in the second functional area 2002. The flexible display substrate 10 is provided on the first cover portion, and the adapter structure 2 is provided on the second cover portion.

[0051] like Figure 6 As shown, the structure and configuration of the flexible cover 201 are the same as those in the figure, and therefore will not be further described. The polarizer 202 includes a first polarizer and a second polarizer adjacently disposed along the sliding direction. The first polarizer is located in the first functional area 2001, and the second polarizer is located in the second functional area 2002. The flexible display substrate 10 is disposed on the first polarizer, and the adapter structure 2 is disposed on the second polarizer.

[0052] When the transition structure 2 is provided on the polarizer 202, the thickness of the transition structure 2 can be greater than the sum of the thicknesses of the support layer 40 and the second buffer layer 30. When the transition structure 2 is provided on the flexible cover 201, the thickness of the transition structure 2 can be greater than the sum of the thicknesses of the support layer 40, the second buffer layer 30, and the polarizer 202. The advantage of limiting the thickness of the transition structure 2 here is that the direction of tension can be adjusted to expand outward away from the scroll 51, thereby further preventing the flexible display panel 1 from arching.

[0053] like Figure 7As shown, the adapter structure 2 includes a filling portion 21 and a force-bearing portion 22. The filling portion 21 is provided on the side of the flexible functional layer 20 close to the flexible display substrate 10, and the force-bearing portion 22 is provided on the side of the filling portion 21 away from the flexible display substrate 10. There are two force-bearing portions 22, and the two force-bearing portions 22 are evenly arranged along the first direction to increase the force uniformity of the flexible display panel 1. It should be noted that the number of force-bearing portions includes but is not limited to two, and can also be set to three, four, or more. The first direction is the width direction of the flexible display panel. It is understandable that the first direction and the second direction are perpendicular to each other.

[0054] like Figure 8 As shown, the filling portion 21 includes at least two filling layers 211, with adjacent filling layers 211 spaced apart, and each adjacent filling layer 211 is bonded together by a second adhesive layer 212. For example, the filling portion 21 may include two filling layers 211 and one second adhesive layer 212, with the second adhesive layer 212 bonded between the two filling layers 211. The filling portion 21 may also include three filling layers 211 and two second adhesive layers 212, with the first second adhesive layer 212 being disposed between the first filling layer 211 and the second filling layer 211, and the second second adhesive layer 212 being disposed between the second filling layer 211 and the third filling layer 211.

[0055] It should be noted that the filling layer 211 can be a metal layer or an optical film layer. The optical film layer can be made of polyimide (PI) or polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The force-bearing portion 22 is a film or metal strip extending away from the scroll 51 along the second direction.

[0056] like Figure 9 As shown, the flexible cover plate 201 may include at least two sub-cover plate layers 2011, with two adjacent sub-cover plate layers 2011 bonded together via a third adhesive layer 2012. The side of the flexible cover plate 201 away from the flexible display substrate 10 generally has a hard coating and a hydrophobic and oleophobic layer with a thickness of 3-10 μm, which enables the flexible cover plate 201 to have good scratch resistance and anti-fingerprint properties.

[0057] The material of the sub-cover layer 2011 can be transparent polyimide film (CPI), transparent polyethylene terephthalate (PET), or transparent ultra-thin glass (UTG). If the flexible cover 201 is made of transparent polyimide film, its mechanical elastic modulus is about 6 GPa and its transmittance is 90%.

[0058] The first adhesive layer 203 , the second adhesive layer 212 and the third adhesive layer 2012 are usually optically transparent adhesives. The material of the optically transparent adhesive is generally acrylic, with an elastic modulus of 30-200 KPa, an adhesive force of 500-2000 gf / inch, and a thickness of 25 μm-100 μm.

[0059] Polarizer 202 controls the polarization direction of the light beam. Its function is to convert omnidirectional light into single-directional polarized light. This polarization is parallel to the transmission axis of polarizer 202, while light perpendicular to the transmission axis is absorbed. Polarizer 202 typically consists of PVA film and TAC film. The PVA film is responsible for polarization and is the core film material of polarizer 202, determining key parameters such as polarization performance, transmittance, and hue. The TAC film supports and protects the extended PVA film.

[0060] The second buffer layer 30 may be made of a buffer material such as foam or polyacrylate (PU). Regardless of foam or polyacrylate, the elastic modulus is 1-10 MPa.

[0061] The support layer 40 can be a patterned metal part, and the base material of the support layer 40 can be a stainless steel plate. A plurality of array-arranged holes are formed in the stainless steel by etching. The holes can be long strips, and the length direction of the holes is consistent with the axial direction of the scroll, which plays a role of lateral support and does not affect curling.

[0062] like Figure 10 As shown, the flexible display substrate 10 can be an OLED display substrate. The flexible display substrate 10 generally includes a base substrate 11, a drive circuit layer 13, a planarization layer group 14, and a pixel layer 16. The drive circuit layer 13 is provided on one side of the base substrate 11, the planarization layer group 14 is provided on the side of the drive circuit layer 13 away from the base substrate 11, and the pixel layer 16 is provided on the side of the planarization layer group 14 away from the base substrate 11. In addition, the flexible display substrate 10 may also include a first buffer layer 12, which is provided between the base substrate 11 and the drive circuit layer 13.

[0063] The base substrate 11 may be made of an inorganic material or an organic material. For example, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the base substrate 11 may be made of a glass material such as soda-lime glass, quartz glass, or sapphire glass, or may be made of a metal material such as stainless steel, aluminum, or nickel.

[0064] In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the substrate 11 may be a flexible substrate. For example, the substrate 11 may be made of polyimide (PI). The substrate 11 may also be a composite of multiple layers. For example, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the substrate 11 may include a bottom film layer, a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer, a first polyimide layer, and a second polyimide layer stacked in sequence.

[0065] In the present disclosure, the driving circuit layer 13 is provided with a driving circuit for driving the sub-pixels. In the driving circuit layer 13, any driving circuit may include a transistor and a storage capacitor. Furthermore, the transistor may be a thin film transistor, which may be selected from a top-gate thin film transistor, a bottom-gate thin film transistor, or a dual-gate thin film transistor; taking a top-gate thin film transistor as an example, the driving circuit layer 13 may include an active layer 131, a gate insulating layer 132, a gate electrode 133, and a first source and drain metal layer, wherein:

[0066] The active layer 131 is disposed on one side of the base substrate 11 and is located in the display area 101. The material of the active layer 131 can be amorphous silicon semiconductor material, low-temperature polysilicon semiconductor material, metal oxide semiconductor material, organic semiconductor material, or other types of semiconductor materials; therefore, the thin film transistor can be an N-type thin film transistor or a P-type thin film transistor. The active layer 131 may include a channel region 1311 and two doped regions of different doping types located on either side of the channel region 1311. The two doped regions of different doping types are respectively a source region 1312 and a drain region 1313.

[0067] The gate insulating layer 132 may cover the active layer 131 and the base substrate 11 , and the gate insulating layer 132 may be made of an insulating material such as silicon oxide.

[0068] The gate 133 is disposed in the display area 101. The gate 133 is disposed on a side of the gate insulating layer 132 away from the base substrate 11 and directly opposite the active layer 131. That is, the projection of the gate 133 on the base substrate 11 is located within the projection of the channel region 1311 of the active layer 131 on the base substrate 11. For example, the projection of the gate 133 on the base substrate 11 coincides with the projection of the channel region 1311 of the active layer 131 on the base substrate 11.

[0069] The driving circuit layer 13 further includes an interlayer insulating layer 134, which is disposed on a side of the gate electrode 133 away from the base substrate 11 and covers the gate electrode 133 and the gate insulating layer 132. The interlayer insulating layer 134 and the gate insulating layer 132 are provided with vias corresponding to the source region 1312 and the drain region 1313 of the active layer 131.

[0070] The first source-drain metal layer is arranged on the surface of the interlayer dielectric layer 135 away from the base substrate 11. The first source-drain metal layer includes a first source electrode 135 and a drain electrode 136. The first source electrode 135 and the drain electrode 136 are arranged in the display area 101 and connected to the active layer 131. For example, the first source electrode 135 and the drain electrode 136 are respectively connected to the corresponding source region 1312 and drain region 1313 of the active layer 131 through vias.

[0071] A protective layer 137 is provided on the side of the first source / drain metal layer away from the base substrate 11. The protective layer 137 covers the first source / drain metal layer. A planarization layer group 14 is provided on the side of the first source / drain metal layer away from the base substrate 11. The planarization layer group 14 is provided on the side of the protective layer 137 away from the base substrate 11. The planarization layer group 14 covers the protective layer 137, and the surface of the planarization layer group 14 away from the base substrate 11 is flat.

[0072] Specifically, the planarization layer group 14 may include a first planarization layer 141, which covers the protective layer 137. The flexible display substrate 10 may also include a second source-drain metal layer. A second planarization layer 142 is provided on the side of the second source-drain metal layer away from the base substrate 11. The second planarization layer 142 covers the second source-drain metal layer and the side of the first planarization layer 141 away from the base substrate 11. The second source-drain metal layer includes a second source electrode 138, which is connected to the first source electrode 135 through a via.

[0073] A pixel defining layer 15 and a pixel layer 16 may be provided on the side of the planarization layer group 14 away from the base substrate 11, and the pixel defining layer 15 and the pixel layer 16 are located in the display area 101. The pixel defining layer 15 has a plurality of pixel openings, and the pixel layer 16 includes a plurality of sub-pixels, and the plurality of sub-pixels are respectively arranged in the plurality of pixel openings. An array of multiple sub-pixels is distributed on the side of the driving backplane 10 away from the base substrate 11, and the specific sub-pixels can be located on the side of the planarization layer group 14 away from the base substrate 11. It should be noted that the sub-pixels may include red sub-pixels, green sub-pixels, and blue sub-pixels depending on the color of the emitted light.

[0074] The pixel layer 16 may include multiple pixel electrodes 161, a light-emitting layer 162 and a common electrode 163. The pixel electrode 161 is located on the surface of the driving backplane 10 away from the base substrate 11, the light-emitting layer 162 is located on the surface of the pixel electrode 161 away from the base substrate 11, and the common electrode 163 is located on the surface of the light-emitting layer 162 away from the base substrate 11.

[0075] The pixel electrode 161 is connected to the first source electrode 135 or the second source electrode 138. When the driving circuit layer 13 includes only the first source electrode 135 and the first planarization layer 141, the pixel electrode 161 is connected to the first source electrode 135 through a via hole in the first planarization layer 141, and the pixel definition layer 15 is provided to cover the first electrode 161 and the first planarization layer 141. When the driving circuit layer 13 also includes a second source-drain metal layer and a second planarization layer 142, the pixel electrode 161 is connected to the second source electrode 138 through a via hole in the second planarization layer 142, and the pixel definition layer 15 is provided to cover the second source-drain metal layer and the second planarization layer 142.

[0076] The common electrode 163 can serve as a cathode, and the pixel electrode 161 can serve as an anode. The pixel electrode 161 is connected to the positive electrode of the power supply, and the common electrode 163 is connected to the negative electrode of the power supply. A signal can be applied through the pixel electrode 161 and the common electrode 163 to drive the light-emitting layer 162 to emit light to display an image. The specific light-emitting principle will not be described in detail here. The light-emitting layer 162 can include an electroluminescent organic light-emitting material. For example, the light-emitting layer 162 may include an auxiliary layer and a light-emitting material layer sequentially stacked on the pixel electrode 161. Generally, a pattern area is provided on the mask plate, and a process such as evaporation is used to form the auxiliary layer of different color sub-pixels and the light-emitting layer 162 of different color sub-pixels.

[0077] In addition, the flexible display substrate 10 of the present disclosure may further include an encapsulation layer 17. The encapsulation layer 17 is disposed on the side of the pixel layer 16 away from the base substrate 11, thereby encapsulating the pixel layer 16 and preventing corrosion by water and oxygen. The encapsulation layer 17 can have a single-layer or multi-layer structure, and the material of the encapsulation layer 17 can include organic or inorganic materials, which are not particularly limited herein.

[0078] In this embodiment, the encapsulation layer 17 may include a first inorganic encapsulation layer 171, an organic encapsulation layer 172, and a second inorganic encapsulation layer 173. The first inorganic encapsulation layer 171 is disposed on a side of the pixel layer 16 away from the base substrate 11, the organic encapsulation layer 172 is disposed on a side of the first inorganic encapsulation layer 171 away from the base substrate 11, and the second inorganic encapsulation layer 173 is disposed on a side of the organic encapsulation layer 172 away from the base substrate 11. A touch layer 18 may also be provided on the side of the encapsulation layer 17 away from the base substrate 11.

[0079] When the transition portion is arranged on the flexible functional layer 20, the normal strain of the flexible cover plate 201 is 1.6%, the normal strain of the touch layer 18 is 0.17%, and the normal strain of the second inorganic packaging layer 173 is 0.16%; when the transition portion is arranged on the supporting layer 40, the normal strain of the flexible cover plate 201 is 1.1%, the normal strain of the touch layer 18 is 0.23%, and the normal strain of the second inorganic packaging layer 173 is 0.22%. It can be understood that, for the normal strain of the touch layer 18 and the second inorganic packaging layer 173, the transition portion is arranged on the flexible functional layer 20, which is smaller than that of the transition portion being arranged on the supporting layer 40.

[0080] When the transition portion is positioned on the flexible functional layer 20, the strain of the first adhesive layer 203 is 130%, the strain of the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer of the polarizer 202 is 120%, and the strain of the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer of the buffer layer is 160%. When the transition portion is positioned on the support layer 40, the strain of the first adhesive layer 203 is 140%, the strain of the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer of the polarizer 202 is 150%, and the strain of the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer of the buffer layer is 175%. Positioning the transition portion on the flexible functional layer 20 results in lower strains for the first adhesive layer 203, the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer of the polarizer 202, and the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer of the buffer layer than when the transition portion is positioned on the support layer 40.

[0081] In summary, except for the flexible cover plate 201, for most functional layers and adhesive layers, the strain of arranging the transition part on the flexible functional layer 20 is smaller than that of arranging the transition part on the supporting layer 40. Therefore, the flexible display device provided in the embodiment of the present disclosure reduces the bending curvature of the flexible display panel, improves its appearance, and provides a better customer experience.

[0082] It should be noted that in addition to the fixed shell, sliding shell, flexible display module and winding mechanism, the display device also includes other necessary components and components, such as circuit boards, power cords, etc. Those skilled in the art can make corresponding supplements based on the specific usage requirements of the flexible display device, which will not be repeated here.

[0083] Flexible display devices can be traditional electronic devices, such as mobile phones, computers, televisions, and camcorders, or emerging wearable devices, such as VR glasses, which are not listed here one by one.

[0084] Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate other embodiments of the present disclosure after considering the specification and practicing the invention disclosed herein. This application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the present disclosure that follow the general principles of the present disclosure and include common knowledge or customary techniques in the art not disclosed herein. The description and examples are to be considered as exemplary only, with the true scope and spirit of the present disclosure being indicated by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A flexible display device, characterized in that: include: The sliding reel can rotate around its axis; A flexible display module includes a flexible display panel and a transfer structure. The flexible display panel includes a flexible display substrate and a flexible functional layer. The flexible display substrate cooperates with the scroll shaft. The flexible functional layer is provided on a side of the flexible display substrate away from the scroll shaft. The transfer structure is provided on a side of the flexible functional layer close to or away from the flexible display substrate. The flexible functional layer includes a first functional area and a second functional area adjacent to each other along the scroll direction. The orthographic projection of the flexible display substrate on the flexible functional layer is located in the first functional area, and the orthographic projection of the transfer structure on the flexible functional layer is located in the second functional area. The flexible display panel also includes a second buffer layer and a support layer. The second buffer layer is arranged on the side of the flexible display substrate close to the scroll shaft, and the support layer is arranged on the side of the second buffer layer close to the scroll shaft. The transition structure is arranged on the side close to the flexible display substrate, and the thickness of the transition structure is greater than the sum of the thicknesses of the support layer and the second buffer layer.

2. The flexible display device according to claim 1, wherein: The flexible functional layer includes a flexible cover plate, and the flexible cover plate includes a first cover plate portion and a second cover plate portion arranged adjacent to each other along the sliding direction. The first cover plate portion is located in the first functional area, and the second cover plate portion is located in the second functional area. The flexible display substrate is arranged on the first cover plate portion, and the transfer structure is arranged on the second cover plate portion.

3. The flexible display device according to claim 1, wherein: The flexible functional layer includes a polarizer and a flexible cover plate that are sequentially away from the sliding axis. The polarizer includes a first polarizer and a second polarizer that are adjacently arranged along the sliding direction. The first polarizer is located in the first functional area, and the second polarizer is located in the second functional area. The flexible display substrate is provided on the first polarizer, and the transition structure is provided on the second polarizer.

4. The flexible display device according to claim 1, wherein: A plurality of limiting protrusions uniformly arranged along the sliding direction are provided on one side of the support layer close to the sliding shaft.

5. The flexible display device according to claim 1, wherein: The transfer structure includes a force-bearing portion, and the force-bearing portion is provided on a side of the flexible functional layer close to the flexible display substrate.

6. The flexible display device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The transition structure includes a filling portion, which is arranged between the flexible functional layer and the force-bearing portion. The filling portion includes at least two filling layers, and adjacent two filling layers are arranged at intervals. Each adjacent two filling layers are bonded together by a second adhesive layer.

7. The flexible display device according to claim 6, wherein: The filling layer is a metal layer or an optical film layer.

8. The flexible display device according to claim 5, wherein: The number of the force-bearing portions is at least two, and the at least two force-bearing portions are evenly arranged along a first direction, and the first direction is a width direction of the flexible display panel.

9. The flexible display device according to claim 2, wherein: The flexible cover plate includes at least two sub-cover plate layers, and two adjacent sub-cover plate layers are bonded together via a third adhesive layer.

10. The flexible display device according to claim 8, wherein: The flexible display device also includes a fixed shell, a sliding shell and a guide shaft. The guide shaft and the sliding scroll shaft are arranged on the sliding shell at intervals along the second direction. The sliding scroll shaft and the guide shaft are parallel to each other. The second direction is perpendicular to the first direction. The adapter structure is fixed on the guide shaft. The end of the flexible display module away from the adapter structure along the sliding direction is fixed to the fixed shell.

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