Flexible cover plate, display module and manufacturing method of flexible cover plate

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a flexible cover, a display module and a method for manufacturing a flexible cover. The flexible cover has a foldable area and a support area located on at least one side of the foldable area, the foldable area and the support area are arranged along a first direction, and the flexible cover includes: a cover body, the cover body includes a first side surface and a second side surface arranged along its thickness direction, at least one of the first side surface and the second side surface has a groove extending along a second direction, and the groove is located in the foldable area; a cured ink portion, the cured ink portion is located in the groove, and the surface of the cured ink portion facing the groove is fitted with the groove wall surface of the groove at all places; a connecting layer, the connecting layer is located on the side of the cover body having the groove, and the first part of the connecting layer is in contact with the cover body, and the second part of the connecting layer is in contact with the cured ink portion; wherein the first direction intersects with the second direction. The flexible cover in the present disclosure has the advantages of being light and thin and having good bending performance.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to the field of display technology, and in particular to a flexible cover plate, a display module, and a method for manufacturing the flexible cover plate. Background Art

[0002] As mobile terminals become more and more diversified, foldable screens, as a new screen form, are becoming more and more popular among consumers. Due to the foldable screen's requirement for bending performance, thinner optical adhesive layers are often used in the cover of the foldable screen, which leads to the weakening of the impact resistance of the foldable screen.

[0003] In order to improve the impact resistance of folding screens, related technologies use glass of unequal thickness. However, due to the unequal thickness design, step differences are easily generated when the structural layer is bonded to the glass of unequal thickness, affecting the bonding yield and bending durability. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The present disclosure aims to solve at least one of the technical problems existing in the prior art, and proposes a flexible cover plate, a display module, and a method for manufacturing the flexible cover plate.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, according to one aspect of the present disclosure, a flexible cover is provided, the flexible cover having a foldable area and a support area located on at least one side of the foldable area, the foldable area and the support area being arranged along a first direction, the flexible cover comprising:

[0006] a cover body, the cover body comprising a first side surface and a second side surface arranged along a thickness direction thereof, at least one of the first side surface and the second side surface having a groove extending along a second direction, the groove being located in the foldable area;

[0007] a solidified ink portion, wherein the solidified ink portion is located in the groove and is in contact with all portions of the groove wall;

[0008] a connecting layer, the connecting layer being located on a side of the cover plate body having the groove, wherein a first portion of the connecting layer contacts the cover plate body, and a second portion of the connecting layer contacts the cured ink portion;

[0009] The first direction intersects with the second direction.

[0010] In some optional embodiments, a surface of the solidified ink portion that is away from the bottom surface of the groove is on the same plane as the groove opening of the groove.

[0011] In some optional embodiments, the maximum thickness of the cured ink portion is greater than or equal to 10 micrometers and less than or equal to 200 micrometers; and / or

[0012] The thickness of the connecting layer is greater than or equal to 10 micrometers and less than or equal to 200 micrometers.

[0013] In some optional embodiments, the peel strength between the cured ink portion and / or the connecting layer and the cover plate body is greater than 600 gf / inch.

[0014] In some optional embodiments, the Young's modulus of the cured ink portion and / or the connecting layer at -20°C is greater than or equal to 140 KPa and less than or equal to 200 KPa;

[0015] The Young's modulus of the cured ink portion and / or the connecting layer at 25° C. is greater than or equal to 20 KPa and less than or equal to 60 KPa;

[0016] The Young's modulus of the cured ink portion and / or the connecting layer at 60° C. is greater than or equal to 10 KPa.

[0017] In some optional embodiments, the pencil hardness of the cured ink portion and / or the connecting layer is greater than or equal to 1H and less than or equal to 3H.

[0018] In some optional embodiments, when both the first side surface and the second side surface have the groove, the orthographic projection of the groove located on the first side surface on the reference plane completely overlaps with the orthographic projection of the groove located on the second side surface on the reference plane, where the reference plane is parallel to the plane where the cover plate body is located.

[0019] In some optional embodiments, the width of the groove in the first direction gradually decreases along a direction away from the notch of the groove; and / or

[0020] The cover plate body is an axisymmetric figure.

[0021] In some optional embodiments, all parts of the surface of the connection layer facing the cover plate body are in contact with the cover plate body and the cured ink portion.

[0022] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a display module, comprising:

[0023] Flexible display panels;

[0024] The above-mentioned flexible cover plate is arranged on the display side of the flexible display panel.

[0025] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a method for manufacturing a flexible cover is provided, wherein the flexible cover has a foldable area and a support area located on at least one side of the foldable area, the foldable area and the support area being arranged along a first direction, the method comprising:

[0026] Providing a cover body, wherein the cover body includes a first side surface and a second side surface arranged along a thickness direction thereof, at least one of the first side surface and the second side surface has a groove extending along a second direction, the groove is located in the foldable area, and the first direction intersects the second direction;

[0027] forming a first ink on a side of the cover plate body having the groove, and curing the first ink to form the cured ink portion, wherein the surface of the cured ink portion facing the groove is in contact with all parts of the groove;

[0028] A connection layer is formed, wherein the connection layer is located on a side of the cover plate body having the groove, a first portion of the connection layer contacts the cover plate body, and a second portion of the connection layer contacts the cured ink portion.

[0029] In some optional embodiments, in the step of forming the connecting layer,

[0030] A second ink is formed on the side of the cover plate body having the groove, and the second ink is cured to form the connection layer.

[0031] In some optional embodiments, at least one of the first ink and the second ink satisfies at least one of the following:

[0032] The viscosity at 25°C is greater than or equal to 10 cps and less than or equal to 20 cps;

[0033] The curing wavelength is greater than or equal to 390 nanometers and less than or equal to 400 nanometers;

[0034] The curing rate of pre-curing is greater than 70%, and the curing rate of main curing is greater than 95%;

[0035] The glass transition temperature is less than or equal to -40°C. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0036] The accompanying drawings are used to provide a further understanding of the present disclosure and constitute a part of the specification. Together with the following detailed description, they are used to explain the present disclosure but do not constitute a limitation of the present disclosure. In the accompanying drawings:

[0037] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of a display module in an example is shown;

[0038] Figure 2 A schematic diagram showing the positional relationship between the connection layer and the flexible display panel in an optional embodiment of the present disclosure is shown;

[0039] Figure 3A schematic diagram showing the positional relationship among the flexible display panel, the connection layer, and the cured ink portion in an optional embodiment of the present disclosure is shown;

[0040] Figure 4 A schematic structural diagram of a display module in an optional embodiment of the present disclosure is shown;

[0041] Figure 5 A schematic diagram showing the positional relationship between the optical adhesive layer and the flexible display panel in another optional embodiment of the present disclosure is shown;

[0042] Figure 6 A schematic diagram showing the positional relationship among the flexible display panel, the optical adhesive layer, and the cover plate body in another optional embodiment of the present disclosure is shown;

[0043] Figure 7 A schematic diagram showing the positional relationship among the flexible display panel, the optical adhesive layer, the cover plate body, and the cured ink portion in another optional embodiment of the present disclosure is shown;

[0044] Figure 8 A schematic diagram showing the positional relationship among the flexible display panel, the optical adhesive layer, the cover plate body, the cured ink portion, and the connecting layer in another optional embodiment of the present disclosure is shown;

[0045] Figure 9 A schematic structural diagram of a display module in another optional embodiment of the present disclosure is shown;

[0046] Figure 10 A schematic structural diagram of a display module in another optional embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0047] 10. Foldable area; 20. Support area; 30. Cover body; 31. First side; 32. Second side; 33. Groove; 40. Cured ink portion; 50. Connecting layer; 51. First part; 52. Second part; 60. Protective layer; 70. Flexible display panel. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0048] The following describes the specific embodiments of the present disclosure in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only used to illustrate and explain the present disclosure and are not intended to limit the present disclosure.

[0049] To make the purpose, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present disclosure more clear, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present disclosure will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of the embodiments of the present disclosure. Obviously, the described embodiments are part of the embodiments of the present disclosure, not all of the embodiments. Based on the described embodiments of the present disclosure, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work are within the scope of protection of the present disclosure.

[0050] Unless otherwise defined, the technical terms or scientific terms used in the embodiments of the present disclosure should have the usual meanings understood by people with ordinary skills in the field to which the present disclosure belongs. The "first", "second" and similar words used in the present disclosure do not indicate any order, quantity or importance, but are only used to distinguish different components. Similarly, words such as "include" or "comprise" mean that the elements or objects appearing before the word include the elements or objects listed after the word and their equivalents, without excluding other elements or objects. Words such as "connect" or "connected" are not limited to physical or mechanical connections, but may include electrical connections, whether direct or indirect. "Up", "down", "left", "right" and the like are only used to indicate relative positional relationships. When the absolute position of the object being described changes, the relative positional relationship may also change accordingly.

[0051] As used herein, "parallel" and "perpendicular" include the conditions described and conditions similar to the conditions described, and the range of the similar conditions is within an acceptable deviation range, wherein the acceptable deviation range is determined by a person of ordinary skill in the art taking into account the measurement in question and the errors associated with the measurement of the specific quantity (i.e., the limitations of the measurement system). For example, "parallel" includes absolute parallelism and approximate parallelism, wherein the acceptable deviation range for approximate parallelism can be, for example, a deviation within 5°; "perpendicular" includes absolute perpendicularity and approximate perpendicularity, wherein the acceptable deviation range for approximate perpendicularity can also be, for example, a deviation within 5°.

[0052] It will be understood that when a layer or element is referred to as being on another layer or substrate, it can be directly on the other layer or substrate, or intervening layers may be present therebetween.

[0053] Exemplary embodiments are described herein with reference to cross-sectional and / or plan views that are idealized exemplary drawings. In the drawings, the thicknesses of layers and regions are exaggerated for clarity. Therefore, variations in shape relative to the drawings due to, for example, manufacturing techniques and / or tolerances are contemplated. Therefore, the exemplary embodiments should not be construed as limited to the shapes of the regions shown herein, but rather include deviations in shape due to, for example, manufacturing. Therefore, the regions shown in the drawings are schematic in nature, and their shapes are not intended to illustrate the actual shape of regions of the device and are not intended to limit the scope of the exemplary embodiments.

[0054] Figure 1The figure shows a schematic diagram of the structure of a display module in an example. In order to improve the impact resistance of the folding screen, the related art uses ultra-thin glass (UFG) of unequal thickness. However, since the ultra-thin glass (UFG) of unequal thickness has grooves in the foldable area 10, the deformation area of ​​the optical adhesive layer (OCA) needs to be used to fill the grooves when the module is attached. However, the effect is not good and there is still a phenomenon of insufficient filling. Please refer to the following examples: Figure 1 That is to say, there is a step difference between the optical adhesive layer OCA and the ultra-thin glass UFG of unequal thickness, which leads to poor bonding rate and poor bending performance of the display module.

[0055] Figure 2 A schematic diagram showing the positional relationship between the connection layer and the flexible display panel in an optional embodiment of the present disclosure is shown; Figure 3 A schematic diagram showing the positional relationship among the flexible display panel, the connection layer, and the cured ink portion in an optional embodiment of the present disclosure is shown; Figure 4 A schematic structural diagram of a display module in an optional embodiment of the present disclosure is shown; Figure 5 A schematic diagram showing the positional relationship between the optical adhesive layer and the flexible display panel in another optional embodiment of the present disclosure is shown; Figure 6 A schematic diagram showing the positional relationship among the flexible display panel, the optical adhesive layer, and the cover plate body in another optional embodiment of the present disclosure is shown; Figure 7 A schematic diagram showing the positional relationship among the flexible display panel, the optical adhesive layer, the cover plate body, and the cured ink portion in another optional embodiment of the present disclosure is shown; Figure 8 A schematic diagram showing the positional relationship among the flexible display panel, the optical adhesive layer, the cover plate body, the cured ink portion, and the connecting layer in another optional embodiment of the present disclosure is shown; Figure 9 A schematic structural diagram of a display module in another optional embodiment of the present disclosure is shown; Figure 10 A schematic structural diagram of a display module in another optional embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0056] First, as Figure 4 、 Figure 9 and Figure 10 As shown, the flexible cover has a foldable area 10 and support areas 20 located on both sides of the foldable area 10, the foldable area 10 and the support area 20 are arranged along a first direction, and the flexible cover includes a cover body 30, a cured ink part 40 and a connecting layer 50.

[0057] The cover body 30 includes a first side surface 31 and a second side surface 32 arranged along its thickness. At least one of the first side surface 31 and the second side surface 32 has a groove 33 extending along the second direction. The groove 33 is located within the foldable region 10, and the first direction intersects the second direction. Providing the groove 33 at the position of the cover body 30 corresponding to the foldable region 10 reduces the thickness of the cover body 30 within the foldable region 10, thereby reducing the structural strength of the cover body 30 and facilitating its bending.

[0058] It should be noted that the cover body 30 can be made of glass, for example, ultra-thin glass of varying thickness. Figure 1 The Y direction in the second direction is Figure 1 The Z direction, that is, the direction perpendicular to the paper surface, is not limited to being perpendicular to the paper surface inward or perpendicular to the paper surface outward, as long as it is a direction perpendicular to the paper surface.

[0059] like Figure 4 、 Figure 9 and Figure 10 As shown, the cured ink portion 40 is located within the groove 33, and the surface of the cured ink portion 40 facing the groove 33 is in contact with the groove wall of the groove 33. By filling the groove 33 with the cured ink portion 40 and contacting the groove wall of the groove 33, the cover body 30 is effectively supported, air gaps are avoided at the groove 33, and the bonding yield is effectively improved, while taking into account small radius bending performance and front impact resistance.

[0060] like Figure 4 、 Figure 9 and Figure 10 As shown, the connection layer 50 is located on the side of the cover body 30 having the groove 33, with the first portion 51 of the connection layer 50 in contact with the cover body 30, and the second portion 52 of the connection layer 50 in contact with the cured ink portion 40. The connection layer 50 is used to connect the cover body 30 to other structures, which may be the flexible display panel 70 or a protective layer, and is not specifically limited here.

[0061] It should be noted that the solidified ink portion 40 can be formed by an inkjet printing process. Since the inkjet printing process can customize the printed shape, the shape of the solidified ink portion 40 is set to be printed according to the shape of the groove 33 to ensure that the solidified ink portion 40 is in contact with the side walls of the groove 33.

[0062] The connection layer 50 can also be formed by inkjet printing. Since the inkjet printing process can form a connection layer 50 with a thickness of 10 microns, it is helpful to reduce the thickness of the flexible cover plate and achieve lightness and thinness.

[0063] The material of the cured ink portion 40 and the material of the connection layer 50 may be the same or different, and there is no specific limitation here.

[0064] In some optional embodiments, the surface of the cured ink portion 40 away from the bottom of the groove 33 is flush with the opening of the groove 33. This arrangement ensures that the groove 33 is completely filled with the cured ink portion 40 while avoiding step differences between the cured ink portion 40, the cover plate body 30, and the connecting layer 50, thereby improving the bonding yield.

[0065] In some optional embodiments, the maximum thickness of the cured ink portion 40 is greater than or equal to 10 microns and less than or equal to 200 microns. The cured ink portion 40 can have a thickness of 10 microns or 200 microns. The thickness of the cured ink portion 40 can be adjusted based on the specific structure of the cover body 30, thereby improving the fit between the cover body 30 and the cured ink portion 40.

[0066] In other optional embodiments, the thickness of the connection layer 50 is greater than or equal to 10 microns and less than or equal to 200 microns. The thickness of the connection layer 50 can be 10 microns or 200 microns, and can be adjusted according to the specific requirements of the flexible cover.

[0067] In some optional embodiments, the material of the cured ink portion 40 includes a material dissolved in a first solvent. The material of the cured ink portion 40 is dissolved in the first solvent to form a solution, which can be applied to an inkjet printer.

[0068] In some optional embodiments, the material of the connecting layer 50 includes an optical adhesive material, one of the materials soluble in the second solvent. The connecting layer 50 can be an optical adhesive layer formed by coating or an inkjet-printed layer formed by inkjet printing. This is not particularly limited herein, as long as the connecting layer 50 is stably connected to the cured ink portion 40 and the cover plate body 30.

[0069] It should be noted that the material of the cured ink portion 40 can be formulated as needed, and the concentration of the material in the first solvent can also be adjusted based on specific usage requirements, and is not specifically limited here. For example, if the connecting layer 50 is an optical adhesive layer, the concentration of the material forming the cured ink portion 40 in the second solvent can be adjusted to adjust the connection strength between the final cured ink portion 40 and the connecting layer 50, thereby ensuring a tight connection between the connecting layer 50 and the cured ink portion 40 and preventing disconnection between the cured ink portion 40 and the connecting layer 50.

[0070] Optionally, the first solvent and the second solvent may be materials that are optically resin-friendly. The first solvent and the second solvent may be the same or different, and there is no specific limitation here.

[0071] Optionally, the material of the cured ink portion 40 and the connection layer 50 may be a foldable resin.

[0072] For another example, the connecting layer 50 is also an inkjet printing layer formed by inkjet printing. The material forming the connecting layer 50 can also be adjusted, and the material forming the cured ink part 40 can also be adjusted to ensure the connection force between the connecting layer 50 and the cured ink part 40, and at the same time, the connection force between the cured ink part 40 and the cover body 30 can also be ensured.

[0073] In some optional embodiments, the peel strength of the cured ink portion 40 on glass is greater than 600 gf / inch. This configuration can ensure the connection between the cured ink portion 40 and the cover body 30, increase the difficulty of peeling the cured ink portion 40 from the cover body 30, reduce the risk of the cured ink portion 40 falling off the cover body 30, and improve the stability and service life of the flexible cover.

[0074] In other optional embodiments, the peel strength of the connecting layer 50 on glass is greater than 600 gf / inch. This configuration can ensure the connection strength between the connecting layer 50 and the cover body 30, increase the difficulty of peeling the cured ink portion 40 from the cover body 30, reduce the risk of the cured ink portion 40 falling off the cover body 30, and improve the stability and service life of the flexible cover.

[0075] In some optional embodiments, the Young's modulus of the cured ink portion 40 at -20°C is greater than or equal to 140 KPa and less than or equal to 200 KPa, the Young's modulus of the cured ink portion 40 at 25°C is greater than or equal to 20 KPa and less than or equal to 60 KPa; and the Young's modulus of the cured ink portion 40 at 60°C is greater than or equal to 10 KPa. The lower the temperature, the better the deformation resistance of the cured ink portion 40, and the higher the temperature, the worse the deformation resistance. The Young's modulus of the cured ink portion 40 at 25°C is within the range of 20 KPa to 60 KPa, ensuring that the cured ink portion 40 has a certain degree of deformation ability to facilitate bending of the flexible cover.

[0076] In other optional embodiments, the Young's modulus of the connecting layer 50 at -20°C is greater than or equal to 140 KPa and less than or equal to 200 KPa. The Young's modulus of the connecting layer 50 at 25°C is greater than or equal to 20 KPa and less than or equal to 60 KPa; the Young's modulus of the connecting layer 50 at 60°C is greater than or equal to 10 KPa. The lower the temperature, the better the deformation resistance of the connecting layer 50, and the higher the temperature, the worse the deformation resistance. The Young's modulus of the connecting layer 50 at 25°C is within the range of 20 KPa to 60 KPa, ensuring that the cured ink portion 40 has a certain degree of deformation ability to facilitate bending of the flexible cover.

[0077] In some optional embodiments, the pencil hardness of the cured ink portion 40 is greater than or equal to 1H and less than or equal to 3H. The pencil hardness of the cured ink portion 40 can be within the range of 1H to 3H, which helps to increase the pencil hardness of the flexible cover, reduce the risk of scratches by sharp objects, improve the resistance to contaminant penetration, and improve the protective performance of the flexible cover for the flexible display panel 70. For example, the pencil hardness of the cured ink portion 40 is 2H.

[0078] In other optional embodiments, the pencil hardness of the connecting layer 50 is greater than or equal to 1H and less than or equal to 3H. The pencil hardness of the connecting layer 50 can be within the range of 1H to 3H, which helps to increase the pencil hardness of the flexible cover, reduce the risk of scratches by sharp objects, improve the resistance to contaminant penetration, and help improve the protection of the flexible cover for the flexible display panel 70. For example, the pencil hardness of the connecting layer 50 is 2H.

[0079] A side surface of the cover body 30 facing the flexible display panel 70 is a first side surface 31 , and a side surface of the cover body 30 away from the flexible display panel 70 is a second side surface 32 .

[0080] exist Figure 4 In the specific embodiment shown, the flexible cover includes a connecting layer 50, a cured ink portion 40, a cover body 30, an optical adhesive layer OCA, and a protective layer 60 stacked in sequence, wherein the first side 31 of the cover body 30 has a groove 33, and the cured ink portion 40 is located in the groove 33.

[0081] exist Figure 4 In the specific embodiment shown, the connection layer 50 is formed on the flexible display panel 70 by inkjet printing process, see Figure 2 , a cured ink portion 40 is formed on the connection layer 50 by an inkjet printing process, see Figure 3, attach the cover plate body 30 to the connecting layer 50, and at the same time, the cured ink portion 40 is completely attached to the groove 33 on the cover plate body 30, attach the optical adhesive layer OCA to the second side surface 32 of the cover plate body 30, and attach the protective layer 60 to the side of the optical adhesive layer OCA away from the cover plate body 30, see Figure 4 .

[0082] It should be noted that in this embodiment, the cured ink portion 40 and the connecting layer 50 are both prepared using an inkjet printing process, and the materials of the two can be the same or different. Using the same material for the cured ink portion 40 and the connecting layer 50 is beneficial to improving the module bonding process capability after filling. Using different materials for the cured ink portion 40 and the connecting layer 50 can take into account the improvement of the module bonding process capability while also meeting the stress and strain requirements of the foldable region 10 for the inter-layer film. When the cured ink portion 40 and the connecting layer 50 are made of different materials, for example, they are made of two materials with different Young's moduli.

[0083] In some optional embodiments, the protective layer 60 is a transparent protective layer.

[0084] Specifically, the transparent protective layer is made of colorless polyimide (CPI) or polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and is attached to the cover body 30 via, for example, an optical adhesive (OCA). CPI and PET offer excellent light transmittance, antistatic properties, and abrasion resistance, making them excellent protective layer materials. Of course, other colorless and transparent materials may also be used, and this is not a limitation here.

[0085] exist Figure 9 In the specific embodiment shown, the flexible cover includes an optical adhesive layer OCA, a cover body 30, a cured ink portion 40, a connecting layer 50, and a protective layer 60 stacked in sequence, wherein the second side 32 of the cover body 30 has a groove, and the cured ink portion 40 is located in the groove 33.

[0086] exist Figure 9 In the specific embodiment shown, the optical adhesive layer OCA is attached to the flexible display panel 70, see Figure 5 Then, attach the cover body 30 to the optical adhesive layer OCA. Figure 6 , a cured ink portion 40 is formed in the groove 33 of the cover plate body 30 by an inkjet printing process, see Figure 7 , a connection layer 50 is formed on the cover plate body 30 by inkjet printing process, see Figure 8 , attach the protective layer 60 to the connecting layer 50, see Figure 9 .

[0087] In some alternative embodiments, see Figure 10 , both the first side 31 and the second side 32 have a groove 33, and the orthographic projection of the groove 33 on the first side 31 on the reference plane completely overlaps with the orthographic projection of the groove 33 on the second side 32 on the reference plane, where the reference plane is parallel to the plane where the cover body 30 is located. In other words, the groove 33 on the first side 31 and the groove on the second side 32 are symmetrically arranged, which is conducive to the bending of the flexible cover. In this embodiment, the grooves 33 on the first side 31 and the second side 32 of the cover body 30 are filled with cured ink parts 40. By filling both sides with cured ink parts 40 to ensure that the module meets the process requirements, the thickness of the cover body 30 in the foldable area 10 can be reduced to the extreme while meeting the requirements of the extreme bending radius.

[0088] It should be noted that the grooves 33 on both sides of the cover plate body 30 are filled with cured ink portions 40. The materials of the two cured ink portions 40 can be the same or different, without specific limitation. Similarly, the materials of the connecting layers 50 on both sides can be the same or different, without specific limitation. The materials between the cured ink portions 40 and the connecting layers 50 can be the same or different, without specific limitation, and can be designed based on the stress and strain requirements between the film layers.

[0089] In some alternative embodiments, see Figure 10 The width of the groove 33 in the first direction gradually decreases away from the notch of the groove 33. This configuration makes the center of the groove 33 deep and the edge shallow, and the cured ink portion 40 disposed in the groove 33 has a greater thickness at the center and a smaller thickness at the edge, thereby making the flexible cover more bendable at the center.

[0090] In some alternative embodiments, see Figure 10 In a longitudinal section of the flexible cover plate parallel to the first direction, the distance between the groove walls of the two grooves 33 in the thickness direction gradually decreases from the ends to the center. This arrangement makes the grooves 33 deeper at the center and shallower at the edges. The cured ink portion 40 disposed within the grooves 33 is thicker at the center and thinner at the edges, thereby improving the bendability of the flexible cover plate at the center.

[0091] In some optional embodiments, the cover plate body 30 is an axisymmetric shape, which is conducive to ensuring that the cover plate body bends symmetrically, thereby ensuring the bending performance of the cover plate body 30.

[0092] Optionally, the thickness of the flexible cover plate is greater than or equal to 450 um and less than or equal to 520 um.

[0093] In some optional embodiments, all areas of the surface of the connection layer 50 facing the cover plate body 30 are in contact with the cover plate body 30 and the cured ink portion 40. The surface of the connection layer 50 formed using the inkjet printing process is flatter, increasing the contact area between the connection layer 50, the cover plate body 30, and the cured ink portion 40.

[0094] In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a display module comprising a flexible display panel 70 and the flexible cover plate described above, wherein the flexible cover plate is disposed on the display side of the flexible display panel 70. The display module with the flexible cover plate described above has a good fit rate, taking into account both small radius bending performance and front impact resistance.

[0095] In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a method for manufacturing a flexible cover, wherein the flexible cover has a foldable area 10 and support areas 20 located on both sides of the foldable area 10, wherein the foldable area 10 and the support areas 20 are arranged along a first direction, and the method for manufacturing the flexible cover includes:

[0096] forming a cover body 30, wherein the cover body 30 includes a first side surface 31 and a second side surface 32 arranged along a thickness direction thereof, at least one of the first side surface 31 and the second side surface 32 having a groove 33 extending along the second direction, the groove 33 being located within the foldable region 10, and the first direction intersecting the second direction;

[0097] A first ink is formed on the side of the cover body 30 having the groove 33, and the first ink is cured to form a cured ink portion 40, and the surface of the cured ink portion 40 facing the groove 33 is in contact with all parts of the groove 33; here, the first ink is formed on the side of the cover body 30 having the groove 33, and can be formed directly on the cover body 30 or on the connecting layer 50. There is no specific restriction at this time, and the operation is performed according to the specific manufacturing process.

[0098] A connecting layer 50 is formed, wherein the connecting layer 50 is located on the side of the cover body 30 having the groove 33 , and a first portion 51 of the connecting layer 50 contacts the cover body 30 , and a second portion 52 of the connecting layer 50 contacts the cured ink portion 40 .

[0099] It should be noted that the order of forming the cover body 30, forming the cured ink portion 40, and forming the connecting layer 50 is not specifically limited. The cover body 30 can be formed first, then the cured ink portion 40, and then the connecting layer 50 is formed. Alternatively, the connecting layer 50 can be formed first, then the cured ink portion 40 is formed, and then the cover body 30 is formed.

[0100] In some optional embodiments, the step of forming the connection layer 50 is performed using an inkjet printing process. By using the inkjet printing process to form the connection layer 50, a thinner connection layer 50 can be formed, which is beneficial for reducing the thickness of the flexible cover and facilitating the bending of the flexible cover.

[0101] Specifically, a second ink is formed on the side of the cover plate body 30 having the groove 33, and the second ink is cured to form the connecting layer 50. The second ink may be formed directly on the side of the cover plate body 30 having the groove 33, or may be formed on the flexible display panel. This is not particularly limited and is performed according to the specific manufacturing process.

[0102] In some optional embodiments, the step of forming the cured ink portion 40 utilizes an inkjet printing process to form the cured ink portion 40. By utilizing the inkjet printing process to form the cured ink portion 40, any shape of the cured ink portion 40 can be formed. The shape of the cured ink portion 40 can be adjusted based on the shape of the recess 33 on the cover plate body 30 so that the printed cured ink portion 40 more closely matches the shape and size of the recess 33.

[0103] Since the cured ink portion 40 is prepared by an inkjet printing process, the shape of the cured ink portion 40 can be customized. At the same time, the size of the prepared cured ink portion 40 is finer and it fits perfectly with the side wall of the groove 33. There is no step difference between the cured ink portion 40 and the groove 33, which improves the fitting yield and bending durability of the flexible cover.

[0104] A side surface of the cover body 30 facing the flexible display panel 70 is a first side surface 31 , and a side surface of the cover body 30 away from the flexible display panel 70 is a second side surface 32 .

[0105] exist Figure 4 In the specific embodiment shown, a second ink is formed on the flexible display panel by an inkjet printing process, and the second ink is cured to form a connecting layer 50, see Figure 2 , a first ink is formed on the connection layer 50 by an inkjet printing process, and the first ink is cured to form a cured ink portion 40, see Figure 3 , attach the cover plate body 30 to the connecting layer 50, and at the same time, the cured ink portion 40 is completely attached to the groove 33 on the cover plate body 30, attach the optical adhesive layer OCA to the second side surface 32 of the cover plate body 30, and attach the protective layer 60 to the side of the optical adhesive layer OCA away from the cover plate body 30, see Figure 4 .

[0106] It should be noted that in this embodiment, the cured ink portion 40 and the connecting layer 50 are both prepared using an inkjet printing process. The first ink and the second ink can be the same or different. Using the same material for the cured ink portion 40 and the connecting layer 50 is beneficial for improving the module bonding process capability after filling. Using different materials for the cured ink portion 40 and the connecting layer 50 can take into account the improvement of the module bonding process capability while also meeting the stress and strain requirements of the foldable region 10 for the interlayer. When the cured ink portion 40 and the connecting layer 50 are made of different materials, for example, they are made of two materials with different Young's moduli.

[0107] exist Figure 9 In the specific embodiment shown, the optical adhesive layer OCA is attached to the flexible display panel 70, see Figure 5 Then, attach the cover body 30 to the optical adhesive layer OCA. Figure 6 , a first ink is formed in the groove 33 of the cover body 30 by an inkjet printing process, and the first ink is cured to form a cured ink portion 40, and the cured ink portion 40 is in contact with the groove wall surface of the groove 33. Figure 7 , a second ink is formed on the cover plate body 30 and the cured ink portion 40 by an inkjet printing process, and the second ink is cured to form a connecting layer 50, see Figure 8 , attach the protective layer 60 to the connecting layer 50, see Figure 9 .

[0108] In some optional embodiments, during the inkjet printing process, the viscosity of the first ink at 25° C. is greater than or equal to 10 cps and less than or equal to 20 cps. This configuration ensures that the first ink has a certain degree of fluidity for use in the inkjet printing process, while also maintaining a certain viscosity to prevent the first ink from flowing to other areas before solidification.

[0109] The first ink and the second ink are in a fluid state during the inkjet printing process, and are in a solid state after the inkjet printing process is completed and solidified.

[0110] In some optional embodiments, during the inkjet printing process, the viscosity of the second ink at 25° C. is greater than or equal to 10 cps and less than or equal to 20 cps. This configuration ensures that the second ink has a certain degree of fluidity for use in the inkjet printing process, while also maintaining a certain viscosity to prevent the second ink from flowing to other areas before solidification.

[0111] Optionally, a curing wavelength of the first ink is greater than or equal to 390 nanometers and less than or equal to 400 nanometers. A curing wavelength of the second ink is greater than or equal to 390 nanometers and less than or equal to 400 nanometers.

[0112] Specifically, the curing rate of the first ink during pre-curing is greater than 70%, and the curing rate during curing is greater than 95%, which is conducive to rapid curing of the first ink. The curing rate of the second ink during pre-curing is greater than 70%, and the curing rate during curing is greater than 95%, which is conducive to rapid curing of the second ink.

[0113] Specifically, the glass transition temperature of the first ink is less than or equal to -40°C. The glass transition temperature of the second ink is less than or equal to -40°C. This configuration ensures that the first and second inks still have good resilience at low temperatures, thereby improving the bending performance of the flexible cover in low-temperature environments.

[0114] It is understood that the above embodiments are merely exemplary embodiments for illustrating the principles of the present disclosure, and the present disclosure is not limited thereto. Those skilled in the art may make various modifications and improvements without departing from the spirit and substance of the present disclosure, and such modifications and improvements are also considered to be within the scope of protection of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A flexible cover, characterized in that: The flexible cover has a foldable area and a support area located on at least one side of the foldable area, the foldable area and the support area are arranged along a first direction, and the flexible cover includes: a cover body, the cover body comprising a first side surface and a second side surface arranged along a thickness direction thereof, at least one of the first side surface and the second side surface having a groove extending along a second direction, the groove being located in the foldable area; a solidified ink portion, wherein the solidified ink portion is located in the groove and is in contact with the groove wall at all locations; a connecting layer, the connecting layer being located on a side of the cover plate body having the groove, wherein a first portion of the connecting layer contacts the cover plate body, and a second portion of the connecting layer contacts the cured ink portion; The peel strength between the cured ink portion and the connecting layer and the cover plate body is greater than 600 gf / inch; the Young's modulus of the cured ink portion and the connecting layer at -20°C is greater than or equal to 140 KPa and less than or equal to 200 KPa; the Young's modulus of the cured ink portion and the connecting layer at 25°C is greater than or equal to 20 KPa and less than or equal to 60 KPa; the Young's modulus of the cured ink portion and the connecting layer at 60°C is greater than or equal to 10 KPa; the pencil hardness of the cured ink portion and the connecting layer is greater than or equal to 1H and less than or equal to 3H; and the first direction intersects the second direction.

2. The flexible cover according to claim 1, wherein: A surface of the solidified ink portion that is away from the bottom surface of the groove is on the same plane as the groove opening of the groove.

3. The flexible cover according to claim 1, wherein: The maximum thickness of the cured ink portion is greater than or equal to 10 micrometers and less than or equal to 200 micrometers; and / or The thickness of the connecting layer is greater than or equal to 10 micrometers and less than or equal to 200 micrometers.

4. The flexible cover according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: When both the first side surface and the second side surface have the groove, the orthographic projection of the groove located on the first side surface on the reference plane completely overlaps with the orthographic projection of the groove located on the second side surface on the reference plane, wherein the reference plane is parallel to the plane where the cover plate body is located.

5. The flexible cover according to claim 4, wherein: The width of the groove in the first direction gradually decreases along a direction away from the notch of the groove; and / or The cover plate body is an axisymmetric figure.

6. The flexible cover according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The surface of the connection layer facing the cover plate main body is in contact with the cover plate main body and the cured ink portion.

7. A display module, characterized in that: include: Flexible display panels; The flexible cover according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the flexible cover is arranged on the display side of the flexible display panel.

8. A method for manufacturing a flexible cover, characterized in that: The flexible cover has a foldable area and a support area located on at least one side of the foldable area, the foldable area and the support area are arranged along a first direction, and the manufacturing method of the flexible cover includes: Providing a cover body, wherein the cover body includes a first side surface and a second side surface arranged along a thickness direction thereof, at least one of the first side surface and the second side surface has a groove extending along a second direction, the groove is located in the foldable area, and the first direction intersects the second direction; forming a first ink on a side of the cover plate body having the groove, and curing the first ink to form the cured ink portion, wherein the surface of the cured ink portion facing the groove is in contact with all parts of the groove; forming a connecting layer, wherein the connecting layer is located on a side of the cover plate body having the groove, a first portion of the connecting layer contacts the cover plate body, and a second portion of the connecting layer contacts the cured ink portion; The peel strength between the cured ink portion and the connecting layer and the cover plate body is greater than 600 gf / inch; the Young's modulus of the cured ink portion and the connecting layer at -20°C is greater than or equal to 140 KPa and less than or equal to 200 KPa; the Young's modulus of the cured ink portion and the connecting layer at 25°C is greater than or equal to 20 KPa and less than or equal to 60 KPa; the Young's modulus of the cured ink portion and the connecting layer at 60°C is greater than or equal to 10 KPa; and the pencil hardness of the cured ink portion and the connecting layer is greater than or equal to 1H and less than or equal to 3H.

9. The method for manufacturing a flexible cover according to claim 8, wherein: In the step of forming the connecting layer, A second ink is formed on the side of the cover plate body having the groove, and the second ink is cured to form the connection layer.

10. The method for manufacturing a flexible cover according to claim 9, wherein: At least one of the first ink and the second ink satisfies at least one of the following: The viscosity at 25°C is greater than or equal to 10 cps and less than or equal to 20 cps; The curing wavelength is greater than or equal to 390 nanometers and less than or equal to 400 nanometers; The curing rate of pre-curing is greater than 70%, and the curing rate of main curing is greater than 95%; The glass transition temperature is less than or equal to -40°C.

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