Attaching method and attaching device

Abstract

The disclosure provides a fitting method and a fitting device, wherein the fitting method comprises: controlling a display module to be in an upper convex state; fitting a first film material on the surface of the display module in the upper convex state; and fitting a second film material on the surface of the first film material, wherein the display module and the first film material are in a lower concave state during the fitting of the second film material. In the fitting method provided by the disclosure, the surface of the first film material fitted with the display module is a first surface, and the surface of the first film material fitted with the second film material is a second surface. In the fitting process of the first film material and the display module, the first surface of the first film material is extruded and the second surface is stretched. In the fitting process of the first film material and the second film material, the first surface of the first film material is stretched and the second surface is extruded. Finally, the two surfaces of the first film material are balanced in force, and are not prone to bubbles and / or wrinkles, thereby improving the appearance quality and reliability of the fitted product.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to the field of display technology, and more specifically to a bonding method and bonding device. Background Technology

[0002] Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) are self-emissive displays without backlighting or liquid crystals. They boast excellent color saturation, contrast, and response speed. Due to their thinner, lighter, and more transparent and flexible materials, OLEDs have broad application prospects. With the rapid development of OLEDs, flexible OLED display panels are increasingly being used in automotive, smart IoT, and other fields, and the market demand for 3D high-curvature displays is growing daily. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This disclosure provides a bonding method and a bonding apparatus.

[0004] In a first aspect, embodiments of this disclosure provide a bonding method, the method comprising:

[0005] The control display module is in an upward convex state;

[0006] A first film material is attached to the surface of the display module in its convex state;

[0007] A second film is bonded to the surface of the first film, wherein the display module and the first film are in a recessed state during the bonding process of the second film.

[0008] In some embodiments, the step of controlling the display module to be in a convex state includes:

[0009] The display module is fixed on the first contoured surface of the contoured structure, and the first contoured surface is an upwardly convex surface.

[0010] In some embodiments, the step of bonding a first film material to the surface of the display module in the convex state includes:

[0011] The first film material is placed on a carrier film base with rollers. The rollers are controlled to roll along the surface of the first film material to adhere the first film material to the surface of the display module in an upward convex state. The first film material adhered to the surface of the display module is in an upward convex state.

[0012] In some embodiments, a second film material is adhered to the surface of the first film material, wherein the step of the display module and the first film layer being in a recessed state during the process of adhering the second film material includes:

[0013] The display module with the first film material attached is placed on the bonding fixture, which has a second contoured surface, which is concave.

[0014] The second membrane material is adsorbed onto the third contoured surface of the adsorption fixture, wherein the third contoured surface is a convex surface and is adapted to the second contoured surface;

[0015] The adsorption fixture is controlled to move toward the bonding fixture, and the display module and the first film material undergo a concave deformation along the second contour surface, and the second film material is bonded to the first film material.

[0016] In some embodiments, the first contoured surface and the second contoured surface have the same radius of curvature.

[0017] In some embodiments, prior to the step of bonding the second membrane material to the surface of the first membrane material, the method further includes:

[0018] The display module with the first film material attached is flattened.

[0019] In some embodiments, after the step of flattening the display module with the first film material attached, and before the step of attaching the second film material to the surface of the first film material, the method further includes:

[0020] The display module is held on opposite sides by a clamp to fix the display module with the first film material attached to the bonding fixture.

[0021] In some embodiments, after the step of bonding the second membrane material to the surface of the first membrane material, the method further includes:

[0022] The adsorption fixture is controlled to move away from the bonding fixture so as to separate the second membrane material from the adsorption fixture.

[0023] In some embodiments, the cross-sectional shape of the second contoured surface includes any one of C-shape, L-shape, and V-shape.

[0024] Secondly, embodiments of this disclosure provide a bonding device, the bonding device comprising:

[0025] A support base, the support base including a contouring structure, the contouring structure having a first contouring surface, the first contouring surface being an upper convex surface;

[0026] A film carrier platform, the film carrier platform including rollers, the film carrier platform being configured to detach from the first film material under the rolling control of the rollers on the surface of the display module, so as to adhere the first film material to the surface of the display module in an upwardly convex state.

[0027] The bonding method provided in this embodiment firstly bonds a first film material to a display module in a convex state, thus the first film material also becomes convex; then, the first film material is bonded to a second film material, with the first film material in a concave state. It should be understood that the surface of the first film material bonded to the display module is the first surface, and the surface of the first film material bonded to the second film material is the second surface. During the bonding process between the first film material and the display module, the first surface of the first film material is compressed and the second surface is stretched; during the bonding process between the first and second film materials, the first surface of the first film material is stretched and the second surface is compressed. Ultimately, this ensures that both surfaces of the first film material are subjected to balanced forces, making it less prone to air bubbles and / or wrinkles, thereby improving the appearance quality and reliability of the bonded product. Attached Figure Description

[0028] The accompanying drawings are provided to further illustrate the present disclosure and form part of the specification. They are used together with the following detailed description to explain the present disclosure, but do not constitute a limitation thereof. In the drawings:

[0029] Figure 1 A schematic flowchart illustrating a bonding method provided in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0030] Figure 2 A schematic flowchart illustrating another bonding method provided in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0031] Figure 3a , 3b This is a schematic diagram of step S21;

[0032] Figure 4a , 4b This is a schematic diagram of step S3;

[0033] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0034] First film material 1, second film material 2, display module 3, carrier film 31, flexible display panel 32;

[0035] Supporting base 21, membrane base 22, roller 23, contouring structure 24, first contouring surface a;

[0036] Adsorption fixture 4, third contour surface c;

[0037] 5. Adhesion fixture, b. Second contour surface, 6. Clamp, 7. Flexible circuit board. Detailed Implementation

[0038] The specific embodiments of this disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are for illustration and explanation only and are not intended to limit this disclosure.

[0039] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this disclosure clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this disclosure will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of this disclosure. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the described embodiments of this disclosure without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this disclosure.

[0040] Unless otherwise defined, the technical or scientific terms used in the embodiments of this disclosure should have the ordinary meaning understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure pertains. The terms "first," "second," and similar terms used in this disclosure do not indicate any order, quantity, or importance, but are merely used to distinguish different components. Similarly, terms such as "comprising" or "including" mean that the element or object preceding the word encompasses the elements or objects listed following the word and their equivalents, without excluding other elements or objects. Terms such as "connected" or "linked" are not limited to physical or mechanical connections, but can include electrical connections, whether direct or indirect. Terms such as "upper," "lower," "left," and "right" are used only to indicate relative positional relationships; when the absolute position of the described object changes, the relative positional relationship may also change accordingly.

[0041] Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) are self-emissive displays without backlighting or liquid crystals. They boast excellent color saturation, contrast, and response speed. Due to their thinner, lighter, and more transparent and flexible materials, OLEDs have broad application prospects. With the rapid development of OLEDs, flexible OLED display panels are increasingly being used in automotive, smart IoT, and other fields, and the market demand for 3D high-curvature displays is growing daily.

[0042] OLED display panels require the lamination of different film materials during the manufacturing process. For large-size automotive OLED products with irregular shapes, lamination fixtures are needed for shaping and bonding, especially for concave or other curved surfaces. Related technologies include roller lamination, PAD lamination, and lamination after shaping, but none of these methods can avoid irregular film marks caused by deformation during the lamination process.

[0043] To address at least one of the aforementioned technical problems, this disclosure provides a bonding method for bonding film materials in irregularly shaped OLED display panels, thereby improving the irregular film marks caused by deformation of the film material during the bonding process and enhancing the display effect of the display panel.

[0044] Figure 1 A schematic flowchart illustrating a bonding method provided in an embodiment of this disclosure, such as... Figure 1As shown, the method includes:

[0045] Step S1: Control the display module to be in an upward convex state.

[0046] Step S2: Apply the first film material to the surface of the display module in the convex state.

[0047] The first film material attached to the display module is also convex.

[0048] Step S3: A second membrane material is attached to the surface of the first membrane material, wherein the module and the first membrane material are in a recessed state during the attachment of the second membrane material.

[0049] The bonding method provided in this embodiment firstly bonds a first film material to a display module in a convex state, thus the first film material also becomes convex; then, the first film material is bonded to a second film material, with the first film material in a concave state. It should be understood that the surface of the first film material bonded to the display module is the first surface, and the surface of the first film material bonded to the second film material is the second surface. During the bonding process between the first film material and the display module, the first surface of the first film material is compressed and the second surface is stretched; during the bonding process between the first and second film materials, the first surface of the first film material is stretched and the second surface is compressed. Ultimately, this ensures that both surfaces of the first film material are subjected to balanced forces, making it less prone to air bubbles and / or wrinkles, thereby improving the appearance quality and reliability of the bonded product.

[0050] In some embodiments, the first film material can be an optical adhesive, and the second film material can be a cover glass. To avoid damage to the display panel during the bonding process, the display module may include a carrier film and a flexible display panel. Furthermore, the first and second film materials described above may also be other film layer structures, and this disclosure does not limit the specific types of film materials used.

[0051] Figure 2 A schematic flowchart illustrating another bonding method provided in embodiments of this disclosure. In some embodiments, such as... Figure 2 As shown, step S1 may specifically include:

[0052] Step S11: Fix the display module on the first contouring surface of the contouring structure. The first contouring surface is an upper convex surface.

[0053] The first contouring surface of the contouring structure can cause the display module to undergo contouring deformation, and can also provide stable support for the first film material during the bonding process, further balancing the stress on the first film material during the bonding process.

[0054] In some embodiments, such as Figure 2 As shown, step S2 may specifically include:

[0055] Step S21: Place the first film material on a substrate with rollers, and control the rollers to roll along the surface of the display module to adhere the first film material to the surface of the display module in an upward convex state. The first film material adhered to the surface of the display module is in an upward convex state.

[0056] Figure 3a , 3b This is a schematic diagram of step S21, specifically, as follows: Figure 3a As shown, the display module 3 is fixed on the first contouring surface a of the contouring structure 24. The first contouring surface a is an upwardly convex surface, and the first film material 1 is placed on the carrier film platform 22; as shown Figure 3b As shown, the roller 23 rolls along a first direction on the surface of the first film material 1. The first direction can be the bending direction of the display module 3, thereby attaching the first film material 1 to the display module 3. After the first film material 1 and the display module 3 are attached, they are both in an upward convex state.

[0057] It should be understood that during the rolling process from one side of the first film material to the other along the first direction, the surface of the first film material in contact with the roller (the second surface) is subjected to tensile force, while the surface of the first film material in contact with the display module (the first surface) is subjected to compressive force. At this time, due to the uneven force on the two opposing surfaces of the first film material, irregular film marks are easily formed on the first film material, affecting the display effect.

[0058] Therefore, to avoid the above-mentioned problems, the bonding method provided in this embodiment further includes step S3. Figure 4a , 4b This is a schematic diagram of step S3, as shown below. Figure 2 As shown, step S3 may specifically include steps S31-S33, specifically:

[0059] Step S31: Place the display module 3 with the first film material 1 attached onto the bonding fixture 5. The bonding fixture 5 has a second contour surface b, which is concave.

[0060] In some embodiments, prior to step S31, the bonding method further includes:

[0061] Step S30: Flatten the display module 3 with the first film material 1 attached.

[0062] In step S30', the display module 3 is clamped on both sides by the clamp 6 to fix the display module 3 with the first film material 1 attached to the bonding fixture 5.

[0063] like Figure 4a As shown, at this time, the display module 3 is placed flat on the fitting fixture 5, but there is a gap between it and the second contour surface b.

[0064] It should be noted that, in order to avoid stress damage to the display panel caused by the clamp 6, the clamp 6 may only clamp the carrier film 31. In addition, the carrier film 31 is also configured to play a role in buffering and stabilizing support during the bonding process of the first film material 1 and the second film material 2.

[0065] Step S32: The second membrane material 2 is adsorbed onto the third contour surface c of the adsorption fixture 4. The third contour surface c is a convex surface and is adapted to the second contour surface b.

[0066] The second membrane material 2 can be pre-shaped and then adsorbed onto the adsorption fixture 4, or it can undergo shape-following deformation due to the adsorption force generated by the adsorption fixture 4; and the adsorption method of the adsorption fixture 4 on the second membrane material 2 can be vacuum adsorption or negative pressure adsorption, or other adsorption methods, which are not limited in this embodiment.

[0067] Step S33, as follows Figure 4b As shown, the adsorption fixture 4 is controlled to move toward the bonding fixture 5, and the display module 3 and the first membrane 1 undergo concave deformation along the second contour surface b, and the second membrane 2 is bonded to the first membrane 1.

[0068] During the movement of the adsorption fixture 4 toward the bonding fixture 5, the display module 3 and the first membrane material 1 undergo shape-following deformation under the pressure of the two. Since the third shape-following surface c is adapted to the second shape-following surface b, the shape of the second membrane material 2 after shape-following deformation matches the shape of the first membrane material 1, and thus the two can be tightly bonded.

[0069] It should also be noted that, such as Figure 4b As shown, a flexible circuit board 7 can be disposed on the second contoured surface b of the adsorption fixture 4, which is configured to provide electrical signals to the display module 3. The surface of the flexible circuit board 7 away from the second contoured surface b can have the same shape as the second contoured surface b, so as to facilitate the bonding of the first film material 1 and the second film material 2 in cooperation with the adsorption fixture 4 and the bonding fixture 5.

[0070] Because the second contoured surface is concave, during the bonding process, the surface of the first film material that contacts the second film material (the second surface) is subjected to compressive force, while the first surface of the first film material is subjected to tensile force. In other words, the first surface of the first film material is first subjected to compressive force during bonding with the display module, and then to tensile force during bonding with the second film material; similarly, the second surface of the first film material is first subjected to tensile force during bonding with the display module, and then to compressive force during bonding with the second film material. Although the order of force application on the two surfaces of the first film material differs during the two bonding processes, the overall force is uniform. Therefore, the first film material is less prone to air bubbles and film marks, which is beneficial for improving the display effect.

[0071] In some embodiments, such as Figure 2As shown, the bonding method also includes:

[0072] Step S41: Control the adsorption fixture to move away from the bonding fixture so that the second membrane material separates from the adsorption fixture.

[0073] Step S42 involves separating the carrier film from the flexible display panel in the display module to form an irregularly shaped display module. Specifically, methods such as laser peeling or etching can be used, but this embodiment does not limit the specific methods employed.

[0074] At this point, the irregularly shaped display module is successfully bonded. It may include a flexible display panel, a first film material, and a second film material, wherein the first film material is an optical adhesive and the second film material is a cover glass.

[0075] In some embodiments, the first and second contoured surfaces have the same radius of curvature. Therefore, the tensile force on the second surface of the first film material during the bonding process between the first film material and the display module is approximately the same as the tensile force on the first surface during the bonding process between the first and second film materials. Similarly, the compressive force on the first surface of the first film material during the bonding process between the first film material and the display module is approximately the same as the compressive force on the second surface during the bonding process between the first and second film materials. The more evenly the forces are applied to the two surfaces of the first film material, the more conducive it is to forming a flat film structure, which is beneficial for providing a better display effect for irregularly shaped display modules.

[0076] In some embodiments, the cross-sectional shape of the second contoured surface includes any one of C-shaped, L-shaped, and V-shaped. That is, the bonding method provided in this embodiment can be used for irregularly shaped display modules with the above structure. As long as the upper and lower surfaces of the first film material are subjected to the same extrusion and tension forces during the two bonding processes, the phenomenon of film marks appearing on the first film material can be improved.

[0077] Based on the same inventive concept described above, this disclosure also provides a bonding device, including a support base and a film carrier base. The support base includes a contouring structure with a first contouring surface, which is an upwardly convex surface. The film carrier base includes rollers, configured such that, under the control of the rollers rolling on the surface of the display module, the film carrier base detaches from the first film material, thereby bonding the first film material to the surface of the display module in its upwardly convex state.

[0078] The aforementioned bonding device can be used to bond the first film material to the display module. With the assistance of rollers, it is easy to conform the shape of the first film material and air bubbles are less likely to be generated during the bonding process. This ensures that both the bonded first film material and the display module have a shape that matches the first conforming surface. Specifically, refer to the above. Figure 3a , Figure 3b The relevant descriptions will not be repeated here.

[0079] It is understood that the above embodiments are merely exemplary embodiments used to illustrate the principles of this disclosure, and this disclosure is not limited thereto. For those skilled in the art, various modifications and improvements can be made without departing from the spirit and substance of this disclosure, and these modifications and improvements are also considered to be within the scope of protection of this disclosure.

Claims

1. A bonding method, characterized in that, The method includes: The control display module is in an upward convex state; A first film material is attached to the surface of the display module in its convex state; A second film is bonded to the surface of the first film material. The surface of the first film material bonded to the display module is called the first surface, and the surface of the first film material bonded to the second film material is called the second surface. During the bonding process of the first film material, the first surface is compressed and the second surface is stretched. During the bonding process of the second film material, the display module and the first film material are in a concave state, the first surface is stretched and the second surface is compressed, so that the two sides of the first film material are subjected to balanced forces.

2. The bonding method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The steps for controlling the display module to be in the convex state include: The display module is fixed on the first contoured surface of the contoured structure, and the first contoured surface is an upwardly convex surface.

3. The bonding method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The step of bonding the first film material to the surface of the display module in the convex state includes: The first film material is placed on a carrier film base with rollers. The rollers are controlled to roll along the surface of the first film material to adhere the first film material to the surface of the display module in an upward convex state. The first film material adhered to the surface of the display module is in an upward convex state.

4. The bonding method according to claim 2, characterized in that, The step of bonding a second film material to the surface of the first film material, wherein the display module and the first film layer are in a recessed state during the bonding process of the second film material includes: The display module with the first film material attached is placed on the bonding fixture, which has a second contoured surface, which is concave. The second membrane material is adsorbed onto the third contoured surface of the adsorption fixture, wherein the third contoured surface is a convex surface and is adapted to the second contoured surface; The adsorption fixture is controlled to move toward the bonding fixture, and the display module and the first film material undergo a concave deformation along the second contour surface, and the second film material is bonded to the first film material.

5. The bonding method according to claim 4, characterized in that, The first contoured surface and the second contoured surface have the same radius of curvature.

6. The bonding method according to claim 1, characterized in that, Before the step of bonding the second membrane material to the surface of the first membrane material, the method further includes: The display module with the first film material attached is flattened.

7. The bonding method according to claim 6, characterized in that, After the step of flattening the display module with the first film material attached, and before the step of attaching the second film material to the surface of the first film material, the method further includes: The display module is held on opposite sides by clamps to fix the display module with the first film material attached to the bonding fixture.

8. The bonding method according to claim 5, characterized in that, After the step of bonding the second film material to the surface of the first film material, the method further includes: The adsorption fixture is controlled to move away from the bonding fixture so as to separate the second membrane material from the adsorption fixture.

9. The bonding method according to any one of claims 4, 5, and 8, characterized in that, The cross-sectional shape of the second contoured surface includes any one of C-shape, L-shape, and V-shape.

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