Flexible display device

Abstract

A flexible display device comprises: a flexible display module, a track, a support module, a fixed housing and a movable housing; the flexible display module comprises a fixed display area, a sliding display area and a tail end, the fixed display area being connected to the fixed housing; the sliding display area can be expanded and retracted by sliding along the track; the support module is located on a non-display side surface of the flexible display module, the support module is connected to the flexible display module and the track; the support module comprises a support member, the support member is located in the sliding display area, and the support member can move under the drive of the track; the movable housing is connected to the track and is configured to drive the track to move to achieve expansion and retraction of the sliding display area.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This article relates to but is not limited to display technology, and in particular to a flexible display device. Background Art

[0002] With the continuous development of display technology, flexible display devices are becoming increasingly widely used. Flexible display modules are characterized by their lightness, thinness, and strong bending flexibility, expanding the structural form factors of terminal devices. Terminal devices now have foldable, roll-up, and curly structures. For roll-up display devices, users can freely adjust the display area of ​​the roll-up flexible display module according to their needs, making it not only convenient for users to carry around, but also providing a better user experience.

[0003] The inventors of the present application have discovered through research that the display module of the scrolling display device is constantly rubbed against the scroll shaft, which may cause the display module to fail easily. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The following is a summary of the subject matter described in detail herein. This summary is not intended to limit the scope of the claims.

[0005] The embodiments of the present disclosure provide a flexible display device to solve the problem of a scrolling display device having constant friction between a display module and a scroll shaft, which may cause the display module to fail easily.

[0006] An embodiment of the present disclosure provides a flexible display device, comprising: a flexible display module, a track, a support module, a fixed housing and a movable housing; the flexible display module comprises a fixed display area, a sliding display area and a tail end, and the fixed display area is connected to the fixed housing; the sliding display area can be expanded and retracted by sliding along the track; the support module is located on the non-display side surface of the flexible display module, and the support module is connected to the flexible display module and the track; the support module comprises a support member, and the support member is located in the sliding display area, and the support member can move under the drive of the track; the movable housing is connected to the track and is configured to drive the track to move, so as to realize the expansion and retraction of the sliding display area.

[0007] In an exemplary embodiment, the support member includes a support bar, a connecting portion and a hook, the hooks are located on both sides of the extension direction of the support bar, and the connecting portion is configured to connect the hooks and the support bar.

[0008] In an exemplary embodiment, the width of the support bar at a side close to the hook is smaller than the width of the support bar at a side away from the hook.

[0009] In an exemplary embodiment, the support bar, the connecting portion and the hook are an integrated structure.

[0010] In an exemplary embodiment, in a plane perpendicular to the extension direction of the support member, the cross-sectional shape of the hook is circular or elliptical.

[0011] In an exemplary embodiment, the track includes an inner track and an outer track arranged parallel to each other; the hook extends between the inner track and the outer track.

[0012] In an exemplary embodiment, the flexible display device further includes a gear, which is located inside the scrolling display area and is configured to limit the angular position of the support member located in the scrolling display area during the scrolling motion.

[0013] In an exemplary embodiment, a side of the connecting portion away from the flexible display module includes an involute region, and the involute region can move in coordination with adjacent gear teeth on the gear.

[0014] In an exemplary embodiment, the gear is provided with a matching hole; the flexible display device further includes a rotating shaft, the rotating shaft is passed through the matching hole, and the rotating shaft is connected to the movable housing.

[0015] In an exemplary embodiment, the support module further includes a display end fixing plate and a tail end fixing plate; the display end fixing plate is located in the fixed display area and connected to the fixed housing; the tail end fixing plate is located at the tail end.

[0016] In an exemplary embodiment, the tail end fixing plate includes an extension portion, and the extension portion extends between the inner rail and the outer rail.

[0017] In an exemplary embodiment, the support module further includes a support plate; the support plate is located on a side of the display end fixing plate, the support member, and the tail end fixing plate close to the flexible display module.

[0018] In an exemplary embodiment, the support plate includes a patterned area, the patterned area is located in the scroll display area, and the patterned area includes a plurality of through holes.

[0019] In an exemplary embodiment, the support plate is connected to the flexible display module via a first adhesive layer, and the support plate is connected to the display end fixing plate, the support member, and the tail end fixing plate via a second adhesive layer.

[0020] The flexible display device provided by the disclosed embodiments utilizes a movable housing to directly drive a track, which in turn drives the flexible display module to unfold. This eliminates the need for a scrolling shaft, thus preventing wear and tear on the flexible display module during movement. This solves the problem of constant friction between the display module and the scrolling shaft in scrolling displays, which can lead to display module failure.

[0021] Other features and advantages of the present disclosure will be described in the following description, and in part will become apparent from the description, or will be understood by practicing the present disclosure. Other advantages of the present disclosure can be realized and obtained through the solutions described in the description and the drawings.

[0022] Still other aspects will become apparent upon reading and understanding the accompanying drawings and detailed description. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] The accompanying drawings are used to provide an understanding of the technical solution of the present disclosure and constitute a part of the specification. Together with the embodiments of the present disclosure, they are used to explain the technical solution of the present disclosure and do not constitute a limitation to the technical solution of the present disclosure.

[0024] Figure 1 It is a structural schematic diagram of a scroll display device;

[0025] Figure 2 A schematic structural diagram of a flexible display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0026] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of an expanded support module in an exemplary embodiment;

[0027] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the support module after curling in an exemplary embodiment;

[0028] Figure 5 A comparison diagram of the strain of the encapsulation layer of the flexible display module in flexible display devices using different support modules;

[0029] Figure 6 is a schematic structural diagram of a support member in an exemplary embodiment;

[0030] Figure 7 A schematic side view of a track-type sliding reel device in some technologies;

[0031] Figure 8 is a schematic structural diagram of a flexible display device in another exemplary embodiment;

[0032] Figure 9 for Figure 8 Schematic diagram of the positions of the gears and tracks of the flexible display device;

[0033] Figure 10 is a schematic structural diagram of a support member in another exemplary embodiment;

[0034] Figure 11 2 is a cross-sectional view of the involute region of the connecting portion mating with the gear in an exemplary embodiment.

[0035] Reference numerals:

[0036] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] The present disclosure describes a plurality of embodiments, but this description is exemplary rather than restrictive, and it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that there may be more embodiments and implementations within the scope of the embodiments described in the present disclosure. Although many possible feature combinations are shown in the drawings and discussed in the detailed description, many other combinations of the disclosed features are also possible. Unless specifically limited, any feature or element of any embodiment may be used in combination with any other feature or element in any other embodiment, or may replace any other feature or element in any other embodiment.

[0038] The present disclosure includes and contemplates combinations of features and elements known to those of ordinary skill in the art. The disclosed embodiments, features, and elements of the present disclosure may also be combined with any conventional features or elements to form a unique inventive solution defined by the claims. Any features or elements of any embodiment may also be combined with features or elements from other inventive solutions to form another unique inventive solution defined by the claims. Therefore, it should be understood that any feature shown and / or discussed in this disclosure may be implemented individually or in any appropriate combination. Therefore, the embodiments are not subject to other limitations except for the limitations set forth in the appended claims and their equivalents. In addition, various modifications and changes may be made within the scope of protection of the appended claims.

[0039] In addition, when describing representative embodiments, the specification may have presented the method and / or process as a specific sequence of steps. However, to the extent that the method or process does not rely on the specific order of the steps described herein, the method or process should not be limited to the steps in the specific order described. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, other orders of steps are also possible. Therefore, the specific order of the steps set forth in the specification should not be interpreted as a limitation on the claims. In addition, the claims to the method and / or process should not be limited to performing their steps in the order written, and those skilled in the art can readily understand that these orders can be changed and still remain within the spirit and scope of the disclosed embodiments.

[0040] In the drawings, the size of one or more components, layer thicknesses, or regions may be exaggerated for clarity. Therefore, one embodiment of the present disclosure is not necessarily limited to these dimensions, and the shapes and sizes of one or more components in the drawings do not reflect true proportions. Furthermore, the drawings schematically illustrate idealized examples, and one embodiment of the present disclosure is not limited to the shapes or values ​​shown in the drawings.

[0041] In this specification, ordinal numbers such as "first," "second," and "third" are provided to avoid confusion among constituent elements, and are not intended to limit the number. "Multiple" in this disclosure means two or more.

[0042] In this specification, for convenience, words and phrases indicating orientation or positional relationships, such as "middle," "upper," "lower," "front," "back," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inside," and "outside," are used to illustrate the positional relationships of constituent elements with reference to the accompanying drawings. This is merely for the purpose of facilitating the description of this specification and simplifying the description, and is not intended to indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed, or operate in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on the present disclosure. The positional relationships of constituent elements may be appropriately changed depending on the orientation of the constituent elements being described. Therefore, the present disclosure is not limited to the words and phrases described in the specification and may be appropriately replaced depending on the circumstances.

[0043] In this specification, unless otherwise specified or limited, the terms "mounted," "connected," and "connected" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to fixed, removable, or integral connections; mechanical or electrical connections; direct connections, indirect connections through intermediaries, or internal communication between two components. Those skilled in the art will understand the meaning of these terms in this disclosure based on the specific circumstances.

[0044] In this specification, "electrically connected" includes components connected together via an element having some electrical function. There are no particular limitations on the "element having some electrical function" as long as it enables transmission of electrical signals between the connected components. Examples of "element having some electrical function" include not only electrodes and wiring, but also switching elements such as transistors, resistors, inductors, capacitors, and other components with various functions.

[0045] In this specification, "parallel" refers to a state where the angle formed by two straight lines is greater than -10° and less than 10°, and thus also includes a state where the angle is greater than -5° and less than 5°. Furthermore, "perpendicular" refers to a state where the angle formed by two straight lines is greater than 80° and less than 100°, and thus also includes a state where the angle is greater than 85° and less than 95°.

[0046] The embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0047] Figure 1 This is a structural diagram of a scroll display device. Figure 1As shown, a scrolling display device in some technologies includes a scroll shaft 10 and a display module 20. The display module 20 can be extended and retracted by moving around the scroll shaft 10, thereby obtaining different screen display areas. The inventors of this application have discovered that during the extension and retraction of the display module 20, constant friction occurs between the scroll shaft 10 and the display module 20, which can easily cause the display module 20 to fail.

[0048] like Figure 1 As shown, the front end of the display module 20 is a fixed end, and the rear end of the display module 20 is a movable end. The display module 20 can be expanded and retracted by moving the rear end. After research, the inventors of the present application also found that due to the rebound force of the display module 20, the rear end of the display module 20 is prone to warping, causing the display surface of the display module 20 to be arched, which poorly experiences the user experience. In some technologies, a certain pulling force F is applied to the rear end of the display module 20 to prevent the rear end from warping and the screen from being arched. However, the pulling force F needs to be provided by a motor or an additional tensioning system. These structures will occupy a large amount of space in the entire device, which is not conducive to the internal space design of the sliding display device.

[0049] An embodiment of the present disclosure provides a flexible display device, comprising: a flexible display module, a track, a support module, a fixed housing and a movable housing; the flexible display module comprises a fixed display area, a sliding display area and a tail end, and the fixed display area is connected to the fixed housing; the sliding display area can be expanded and retracted by sliding along the track; the support module is located on the non-display side surface of the flexible display module, and the support module is connected to the flexible display module and the track; the support module comprises a support member, and the support member is located in the sliding display area, and the support member can move under the drive of the track; the movable housing is connected to the track and is configured to drive the track to move, so as to realize the expansion and retraction of the sliding display area.

[0050] The flexible display device provided by the embodiment of the present disclosure directly drives the track through the movable housing, and utilizes the track to drive the flexible display module to unfold. There is no need to set a sliding scroll, thus avoiding wear of the flexible display module during movement.

[0051] Furthermore, because the support member is connected to the flexible display module, the track can limit the support member's position perpendicular to the flexible display module's surface while driving its movement. This mitigates the rebound force at the rear end of the flexible display module and limits any potential bulging. This results in a flatter flexible display module and improves the user experience. Furthermore, there's no need for an additional tensioning system to apply tension to the rear end of the flexible display module, saving space within the flexible display device.

[0052] The flexible display device in the embodiment of the present disclosure may be any product or component with a display function, such as a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a television, a monitor, a laptop computer, a digital photo frame, or a navigator.

[0053] In an exemplary embodiment, the support member includes a support bar, a connecting portion and a hook, the hooks are located on both sides of the extension direction of the support bar, and the connecting portion is configured to connect the hooks and the support bar.

[0054] In an exemplary embodiment, the width of the support bar at a side close to the hook is smaller than the width of the support bar at a side away from the hook.

[0055] In an exemplary embodiment, the support bar, the connecting portion and the hook are an integrated structure.

[0056] In an exemplary embodiment, in a plane perpendicular to the extension direction of the support member, the cross-sectional shape of the hook is circular or elliptical.

[0057] In an exemplary embodiment, the track includes an inner track and an outer track arranged parallel to each other; the hook extends between the inner track and the outer track.

[0058] In an exemplary embodiment, the flexible display device further includes a gear, which is located inside the scrolling display area and is configured to limit the angular position of the support member located in the scrolling display area during the scrolling motion.

[0059] In an exemplary embodiment, the gear is located inside the track, and a side of the connecting portion away from the flexible display module includes an involute region, and the involute region can move in coordination with adjacent gear teeth on the gear.

[0060] In an exemplary embodiment, the gear is provided with a matching hole; the flexible display device further includes a rotating shaft, the rotating shaft is passed through the matching hole, and the rotating shaft is connected to the movable housing.

[0061] In an exemplary embodiment, the support module further includes a display end fixing plate and a tail end fixing plate; the display end fixing plate is located in the fixed display area and connected to the fixed housing; the tail end fixing plate is located at the tail end.

[0062] In an exemplary embodiment, the tail end fixing plate includes an extension portion, and the extension portion extends between the inner rail and the outer rail.

[0063] In an exemplary embodiment, the support module further includes a support plate; the support plate is located on a side of the display end fixing plate, the support member, and the tail end fixing plate close to the flexible display module.

[0064] In an exemplary embodiment, the support plate includes a patterned area, the patterned area is located in the scroll display area, and the patterned area includes a plurality of through holes.

[0065] In an exemplary embodiment, the support plate is connected to the flexible display module via a first adhesive layer, and the support plate is connected to the display end fixing plate, the support member, and the tail end fixing plate via a second adhesive layer.

[0066] Figure 2 FIG is a schematic diagram of the structure of the flexible display device in the embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 2As shown, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a flexible display device comprising: a flexible display module 100, a track 200, a support module, a movable housing (not shown), and a fixed housing (not shown). The flexible display module 100 includes a flexible screen. One side of the flexible display module 100 is a display side surface, which supports the flexible display device to implement functions such as image display and user interaction. The opposite side surface of the flexible display module 100 is a non-display side surface. The flexible display module 100 includes a fixed display area 101, a scrolling display area 102, and a tail end 103. The end of the fixed display area 101 distal to the tail end 103 is the head end, which is the fixed end. The fixed display area 101 can be located within and connected to the fixed housing. The scrolling display area 102 has a retracted state and an extended state, corresponding to the retracted and extended states of the flexible display module 100. When the scrolling display area 102 is in the retracted state, it can be located within the fixed housing, and the fixed display area 101 can display. The sliding display area 102 can be extended from the fixed housing by sliding and transformed into an expanded state. When the sliding display area 102 is in the expanded state, the sliding display area 102 can be displayed together with the fixed display area 101, and the sliding display area 102 in the expanded state can be retracted into the fixed housing by sliding. The tail end 103 is a movable end, and during the expansion and retraction process of the flexible display module 100, the tail end 103 and the sliding display area 102 move together. In the retracted state and the expanded state, the tail end 103 can be located in the fixed housing, and the tail end 103 can be set as a non-display area, or can be set as a back display area to achieve double-sided display of the flexible display device. The support module is located on the non-display side surface of the flexible display module 100, is connected to the flexible display module 100, and is configured to provide support to the flexible display module 100. The support module includes multiple support members 302 located within the scrolling display area 102. These members 302 can move with the track 200, driving the scrolling display area 102 to expand and retract. The movable housing is connected to the track 200 and configured to drive the track 200. Driven by the support members 302, the flexible display module 100 can slide with the movement of the track 200, switching between an expanded and retracted state, thereby changing the display area of ​​the flexible display device.

[0067] In an exemplary embodiment, Figure 2 As shown, the track 200 may include an inner track 201 and an outer track 202 that are parallel to each other. The support member 302 may extend between the inner track 201 and the outer track 202, so that the support member 302 may move with the movement of the track 200. Figure 2As shown, the inner rail 201 and the outer rail 202 can have a curved surface area S, so that the flexible display module 100 includes a flat portion and a curved surface area. The fixed display area 101 and the tail end 103 are located in the flat portion, and the sliding display area 102 can be located in the flat portion and the curved surface area. During the expansion and retraction process, the sliding display area 102 located in the flat portion can be expanded and retracted through the curved surface area S. The inner rail 201 and the outer rail 202 can limit the movement of the support member 302. In the flat portion, the inner rail 201 and the outer rail 202 can prevent the support member 302 from moving in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the flexible display module 100. In the curved surface portion, the inner rail 201 and the outer rail 202 can prevent the support member 302 from moving in the normal direction of the curved cross-section, thereby limiting the arching of the flexible display module 100. Under the restriction of the track 200, the support member 302 can constrain the flexible display module 100, reduce the rebound force accumulated in the flexible display module 100, and help prevent the tail end 103 from warping. Moreover, under this design, there is no need to set up an additional tensioning force system to provide pulling force to the tail end 103, which can save space for the entire machine.

[0068] In an exemplary embodiment, the support module may be attached to the non-display side surface of the flexible display module 100 to provide support for the flexible display module 100 . The present disclosure does not limit the connection method between the support module and the flexible display module 100 .

[0069] In an exemplary embodiment, the extension direction of the support member 302 may intersect with the unfolding direction of the flexible display module 100. Figure 2 , the extending direction of the support member 302 is perpendicular to the unfolding direction of the flexible display module 100 , which is not limited in the present disclosure.

[0070] like Figure 2As shown, the side surface of the flexible display module 100 within the fixed housing can be U-shaped. The direction of the hollow arrow K can be the direction of deployment of the flexible display module 100, and the direction of the hollow arrow G can be the direction of retraction of the flexible display module 100. The deployment process of the flexible display module 100 includes: the movable housing pushes the track 200 in the direction of the hollow arrow K, the track 200 drives the support member 302 to move, and the scrolling display area 102 can be deployed along the direction of the hollow arrow K through the curved surface area S and can display together with the fixed display area 101. During the deployment process, the inner track 201 is the force applied, pushing the support member 302 to move. The retraction process of the flexible display module 100 includes: the movable housing pulls the track 200 in the direction of the hollow arrow G, the track 200 drives the support member 302 to move, and the scrolling display area 102 can be retracted along the direction of the hollow arrow G through the curved surface area S. During the retraction process, the outer track 202 is the force applied, pushing the support member 302 to move. During deployment and retraction, the flexible display module 100 in the curved surface area S is subjected to force as a whole, while the surface forces in different portions of the scrolling display area 102 are evenly distributed. Furthermore, the scrolling display area 102 is protected from wear, thereby ensuring the service life of the flexible display device. In an exemplary embodiment, the movable housing may be connected to a motor via a transmission mechanism, driven by the motor for movement, although this disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0071] Figure 3 FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the expansion of the support module in an exemplary embodiment. Figure 3 As shown, the support module may further include a display end fixing plate 301 and a tail end fixing plate 303. The display end fixing plate 301 is disposed on the fixed display area 101 to provide support for the fixed display area 101. The display end fixing plate 301 may be connected to the fixed housing. The tail end fixing plate 303 is disposed on the tail end 103 to provide support for the tail end 103. Figure 3 The diagram schematically illustrates the corresponding relationships between the display end fixing plate 301, support member 302, and tail end fixing plate 303, and the fixed display area 101, scrolling display area 102, and tail end 103. In an exemplary embodiment, the tail end fixing plate 303 may include an extension (not shown) that extends between the inner rail 201 and the outer rail 202. This allows the rail 200 to limit the movement of the tail end fixing plate 303, further preventing the tail end 103 from tilting.

[0072] In an exemplary embodiment, the support module may further include a support plate 304, which is disposed on the non-display side surface of the flexible display module 100 to provide support for the flexible display module 100. In an exemplary embodiment, the support plate 304 may be located on a side of the display-end fixing plate 301, the support member 302, and the tail-end fixing plate 303 that is closer to the flexible display module 100. In an exemplary embodiment, the support plate 304 may be connected to the flexible display module 100 via a first adhesive layer 305, and the support plate 304 may be connected to the display-end fixing plate 301, the support member 302, and the tail-end fixing plate 303 via a second adhesive layer 306. In an exemplary embodiment, the support plate 304 may be made of a rigid material, such as SUS stainless steel, and the first adhesive layer 305 and the second adhesive layer 306 may be double-sided tape, which is not limited in this disclosure.

[0073] In an exemplary embodiment, the support plate 304 may include a patterned area, and the patterned area is located in the scroll display area 102. The support plate 304 in the patterned area may be patterned. The support plate 304 after the patterning has better bending performance and can move together with the scroll display area 102 while providing support to the scroll display area 102. For example, the support plate 304 can be made of SUS stainless steel material, and the patterning treatment can be to form a plurality of through-hole patterns in the patterned area to reduce the internal stress of the patterned area when bending. The support plate 304 located in the fixed display area 101 and the tail end 103 can be a steel plate with a whole surface structure. When the support plate 304 is made of other rigid materials, other patterning treatment methods can be adopted, such as softening treatment. The material, shape, size and corresponding patterning treatment method of the support plate 304 can be set as needed, and the present disclosure is not limited to this.

[0074] Figure 4 The present inventors have found that during the rolling process, the positions of the support module in the rolling display area 102 with the largest strain are located on both sides of the extension direction of the support member 302, such as Figure 4 The dashed areas D1 and D2 in the figure show stress concentration. These areas are prone to cracking in the flexible display module 100's film layer and debonding between the flexible display module 100 and the support module. This increases the risk of failure of the flexible display module 100 in these areas. Simulations have shown that the maximum strain of the support member 302 in these areas can reach 2.472e-02.

[0075] Figure 5The figure is a comparison of the strain of the encapsulation layer of the flexible display module in the flexible display device using different support modules. The inventors of this application have found that the strain of the scrolling display area 102 is related to the width of the support member 302 and the distance between adjacent support members 302. Figure 5 As shown, the difference between solution S1 and solution S2 lies only in the width of the support members 302 and the distance between adjacent support members 302. In solution S1, the width of the support members 302 is greater than 1 mm and the distance between adjacent support members 302 is less than 1 mm. In solution S2, the width of the support members 302 is less than 1 mm and the distance between adjacent support members 302 is greater than 1 mm. In both solutions S1 and S2, the sum of the width of the support members 302 and the distance between adjacent support members 302 is equal. Figure 5 The maximum strain of the encapsulation layer of the flexible display module 100 in solutions S1 and S2 is shown in FIG. Figure 5 The horizontal axis represents different solutions, and the vertical axis represents the maximum value of the dependent variable, such as Figure 5 As shown, the maximum strain of solution S1 is about 4 thousandths, and the maximum strain of solution S2 is about 3.2 thousandths. It can be seen that, under the same circumstances, by reducing the width of the support member 302 and correspondingly increasing the distance between adjacent support members 302, the strain of the encapsulation layer of the flexible display module 100 can be greatly reduced, thereby reducing the failure risk of the flexible display module 100. However, in the track-type sliding device, in order to ensure the support performance of the flexible display module 100, it is necessary to increase the support performance of the flexible display module 100 by increasing the width of the support member 302 and reducing the distance between adjacent support members 302, which conflicts with the need to reduce the strain of the flexible display module 100 and the adhesive layer.

[0076] Figure 6 FIG. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a support member in an exemplary embodiment. Figure 6 As shown, the support member 302 may include a support bar 311, a connecting portion 312 and a hook 313. The hook 313 is located on both sides of the extension direction of the support bar 311, and the hook 313 and the support bar 311 may be connected through the connecting portion 312. The support bar 311 may be connected to the sliding display area 102, and the hook 313 may extend between the inner rail 201 and the outer rail 202, so that the support member 302 may move with the movement of the rail 200. In an exemplary embodiment, the support bar 311, the connecting portion 312 and the hook 313 may be an integral structure, or the support bar 311, the connecting portion 312 and the hook 313 may be fixedly connected, and there is no relative movement between the support bar 311, the connecting portion 312 and the hook 313. The extension direction of the support bar 311 may be the length direction of the support bar 311 or the support member 302, and the width of the support surface of the support bar 311 facing the flexible display module 100 may be the width of the support bar 311. As Figure 6As shown, in this embodiment, the support bars 311 are designed with unequal widths. The width of the support bar 311 on the side close to the hook 313 is smaller than the width of the support bar 311 on the side away from the hook 313. This design reduces the width of the support bar 311 at the stress concentration location, indirectly increasing the distance between adjacent support bars 311 at the stress concentration location. While ensuring the support performance of the primary touch area, it can reduce the strain of the encapsulation layer and adhesive layer of the flexible display module 100, reduce the risk of failure of the flexible display module 100, and help extend the service life of the flexible display device. The width of the support bar 311 and the distance between adjacent support bars 311 can be set as needed, and this disclosure is not limited to this.

[0077] In an exemplary embodiment, Figure 6 As shown, the cross-sectional shape of the hook 313 can be circular in a plane perpendicular to the extension direction of the support member 302, which helps reduce the friction between the hook 313 and the rail 200 and makes the sliding process smoother. In other embodiments, the cross-sectional shape of the hook 313 can be set to an elliptical shape, a polygon of other shapes, etc. The cross-sectional shape of the hook 313 can be set as needed, and this disclosure is not limited to this.

[0078] Figure 7 The figure is a side view of a track-type scrolling device in some technologies. The inventors of this application have discovered that, in some track-type scrolling devices, because the angular position of the support members 302 is not restricted in the curved area S and the distance between adjacent support members 302 is small, the friction between the support members 302 and the track 200 can cause adjacent hooks 313 to collide in the curved area S, causing adjacent support bars 311 to aggregate and squeeze the scrolling display area, as shown in the dashed area E. This stress concentration during the scrolling process increases the risk of failure of the entire device and the flexible display module 100.

[0079] Figure 8 FIG. 4 is a schematic structural diagram of a flexible display device in another exemplary embodiment. Figure 8 and Figure 2 The difference between flexible display devices is Figure 8 The flexible display device includes a gear 401 and a rotating shaft 402. To illustrate the matching relationship between the gear 401 and the support member 302, Figure 8 The track and other structures are omitted in the figure. Figure 8As shown, a gear 401 is provided on the inner side of the scrolling display area 102. The gear 401 is configured to limit the angular position of the support member 302 located in the scrolling display area 102. When scrolling, the hook 313 of the support member 302 can cooperate with the gear teeth of the gear 401. By limiting the distance between adjacent support members 302 by the gear 401, collision between adjacent support members 302 during movement can be avoided, thereby reducing the failure risk of the entire machine and the flexible display module 100.

[0080] Figure 9 for Figure 8 Schematic diagram of the position of gears and tracks of the flexible display device. Figure 9 The rotating shaft 402 is omitted in the figure. Figure 8 and Figure 9 As shown, in an exemplary embodiment, the gear 401 may have a mating hole located at the geometric center of the gear 401. The rotating shaft 402 may extend through the mating hole and be connected to the movable housing. The gear 401 may be positioned inside the track 200, and the hook 313 may be positioned between the inner track 201 and the outer track 202. The gear 401 may move in conjunction with the connecting portion 312. The gear 401 may be configured to rotate about the rotating shaft 402, or the rotating shaft 402 may be configured to rotate with the gear 401. During the scrolling process, the movable housing drives the track 200 and the rotating shaft 402 to move. As the track 200 drives the hook 313 to move, the gear 401 rotates synchronously, and the connecting portion 312 moves along the gear 401, thereby expanding or retracting the scrolling display area 102.

[0081] Figure 10 FIG. 1 is a structural diagram of a support member in another exemplary embodiment. Figure 10 As shown, in order to cooperate with the movement of the gear 401 , the side of the connecting portion 312 away from the flexible display module 100 may include an involute region, and the involute region is configured to cooperate with the adjacent gear teeth on the gear 401 for movement. Figure 10 The support member 302 of the structure shown can better cooperate with the gear 401 to move, making the sliding and rolling process smoother.

[0082] Figure 11 2 is a cross-sectional view of the involute region of the connecting portion mating with the gear in an exemplary embodiment. Figure 11In the figure, P represents the base circle of gear 401, the diameter of which is D1, and the dotted circle Q represents the pitch circle of gear 401, the diameter of which is D2. When designing the parameters of gear 401, the base circle diameter D1 of gear 401 and the number Z of hooks 313 located in the arc surface area can be designed as needed. Based on the base circle diameter D1 and the number Z of hooks 313 located in the arc surface area, the module m and the pitch circle diameter D2 of gear 401 can be calculated. The module m and the pitch circle diameter D2 of gear 401 can be obtained according to the following set of linear equations consisting of two variables: (1) and (2):

[0083] D2=D1+2.5m (1)

[0084] D2=Z×m (2)

[0085] In an exemplary embodiment, the shape and other related parameters of the gear 401 may be set as needed, and the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0086] In an exemplary embodiment, a process for preparing a flexible display device may include the following steps:

[0087] S1. Prepare a flexible display module 100.

[0088] This step can be performed by preparing the flexible display module according to known technical means, which will not be described in detail herein. In an exemplary embodiment, the preparation process of the flexible display module may include processes such as binding, lamination, and laser cutting.

[0089] S2. Perform patterning on the support plate 304.

[0090] In an exemplary embodiment, the support plate 304 may be made of SUS stainless steel, and a patterning process may be performed on the patterned area located in the scrolling display area 102. The patterning process may include operations such as etching.

[0091] S3. Forming a first bonding layer 305.

[0092] In an exemplary embodiment, a first double-sided tape may be attached to a surface of the support plate 304 close to the flexible display module 100 to form a first adhesive layer 305 , and a protective film may be attached to a surface of the first adhesive layer 305 close to the flexible display module 100 .

[0093] S4. Forming a second adhesive layer 306.

[0094] In an exemplary embodiment, a second double-sided tape may be attached to a surface of the support plate 304 away from the flexible display module 100 to form a second adhesive layer 306 , and a protective film may be attached to a surface of the second adhesive layer 306 away from the flexible display module 100 .

[0095] S5. Prepare the support member 302.

[0096] In an exemplary embodiment, the support bar 311, the connecting portion 312 and the hook 313 may be an integrated structure. The support member 302 may be manufactured using liquid metal processing, powder metallurgy processing, additive manufacturing processing, metal injection molding processing, and other methods, which are not limited in this disclosure.

[0097] In an exemplary embodiment, the width of the support bar 311 on the side closest to the hook 313 can be smaller than the width of the support bar 311 on the side away from the hook 313. The cross-sectional shape of the hook 313 in a plane perpendicular to the extension direction of the support member 302 can be circular or elliptical. An involute region can be formed on the side of the connecting portion 312 away from the flexible display module 100. The involute region is configured to mate with adjacent teeth on the gear 401. In an exemplary embodiment, the involute tooth profile of the involute region can be formed after the entire support member 302 is machined, such as by milling, grinding, or wire electrical discharge cutting.

[0098] S6, combined support module.

[0099] In an exemplary embodiment, the display fixing plate 301 and the tail end fixing plate 303 can be flatly bonded to the second adhesive layer 306, and the support member 302 can be 3D bonded to the second adhesive layer 306 to form a support module. In an exemplary embodiment, the plurality of support members 302 can be arranged at fixed intervals.

[0100] S7 , laminating the flexible display module 100 .

[0101] In an exemplary embodiment, the flexible display module 100 may be 3D-laminated with the first adhesive layer 305 to achieve lamination of the support module and the flexible display module 100 .

[0102] S8. Combine with the track 200, gear 401, shaft 402 and other parts to form a flexible display device.

[0103] In the above preparation process, steps S1, S2, and S5 may be performed in any order.

[0104] Although the embodiments disclosed herein are as described above, the contents described herein are merely embodiments for facilitating understanding of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. Any person skilled in the art may make any modifications and variations in the form and details of the embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. However, the scope of patent protection of the present invention shall remain subject to the scope defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A flexible display device, characterized in that: include: Flexible display module, track, support module, fixed housing and movable housing; The flexible display module includes a fixed display area, a sliding display area, and a tail end, wherein the fixed display area is connected to the fixed housing; the sliding display area can be expanded and retracted by sliding along the track; The support module is located on the non-display side surface of the flexible display module, and is connected to the flexible display module and the track; the support module includes a support member, which is located in the scrolling display area and can move under the drive of the track; The movable housing is connected to the track and is configured to drive the track to move so as to realize the expansion and retraction of the scrolling display area; The support member includes a support bar, a connecting portion and a hook, wherein the hook is located on both sides of the support bar in the extension direction, and the connecting portion is configured to connect the hook and the support bar; the support bar is configured to provide support for the flexible display module, and in a direction perpendicular to the flexible display module, the hook is located on the side of the support bar away from the flexible display module; The track includes an inner track and an outer track arranged parallel to each other, the inner track is located on the side of the outer track away from the flexible display module; the hook extends between the inner track and the outer track; during the expansion of the sliding display area, the inner track pushes the hook to move, thereby driving the support member to move; during the retraction of the sliding display area, the outer track drives the hook to move, thereby driving the support member to move.

2. The flexible display device according to claim 1, wherein: The width of the support bar at a side close to the hook is smaller than the width of the support bar at a side away from the hook.

3. The flexible display device according to claim 1, wherein: The support bar, the connecting portion and the hook are an integrated structure.

4. The flexible display device according to claim 1, wherein: In a plane perpendicular to the extending direction of the support member, the cross-section of the hook is circular or elliptical.

5. The flexible display device according to claim 1, wherein: The flexible display device further includes a gear, which is located inside the scrolling display area and is configured to limit the angular position of the support member located in the scrolling display area during the scrolling motion.

6. The flexible display device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The side of the connecting portion away from the flexible display module includes an involute area, and the involute area can move in coordination with adjacent gear teeth on the gear.

7. The flexible display device according to claim 5, wherein: The gear is provided with a matching hole; the flexible display device further comprises a rotating shaft, the rotating shaft is passed through the matching hole, and the rotating shaft is connected to the movable housing.

8. The flexible display device according to claim 1, wherein: The support module further includes a display end fixing plate and a tail end fixing plate; the display end fixing plate is located in the fixed display area and connected to the fixed housing; the tail end fixing plate is located at the tail end.

9. The flexible display device according to claim 8, wherein: The tail end fixing plate includes an extension portion, and the extension portion extends between the inner rail and the outer rail.

10. The flexible display device according to claim 8, wherein: The support module further includes a support plate; the support plate is located on a side of the display end fixing plate, the support member, and the tail end fixing plate close to the flexible display module.

11. The flexible display device according to claim 10, wherein: The support plate includes a patterned area, the patterned area is located in the scroll display area, and the patterned area includes a plurality of through holes.

12. The flexible display device according to claim 10, wherein: The support plate is connected to the flexible display module via a first adhesive layer, and the support plate is connected to the display end fixing plate, the support member, and the tail end fixing plate via a second adhesive layer.

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