Flexible display module and display device

Abstract

The application relates to a flexible display module and a display device. The flexible display module comprises: a flexible display panel, a display surface of the flexible display panel close to a display side comprises a display area and a frame area located at the periphery of the display area; a protection structure covering the edge of the flexible display panel, the protection structure comprises a first part located on the display surface of the flexible display panel, a second part located on the side surface of the flexible display panel, and a third part located on the back surface of the flexible display panel away from the display side, wherein the first part covers the frame area of the flexible display panel, and the flexible display module can be fixed on the display device through at least one of the first part, the second part and the third part.

Description

Technical Field

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

[0002] With the increasing demand for diversified display products, flexible organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display panels have become a promising next-generation display technology due to their bendability and variability, as well as their advantages such as self-luminescence, continuously adjustable luminous color, high brightness, low power consumption, light weight, and wide viewing angle.

[0003] In related technologies, flexible OLED display panels can be encapsulated using glass or resin cover plates. As the strength of flexible OLED display panels increases, they can be manufactured without encapsulation, achieving even greater lightness, thinness, and cost-effectiveness. However, unencapsulated flexible OLED display panels are susceptible to progressive black spots on their edges due to external forces, affecting display quality. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The present application provides a flexible display module and a display device to solve the problem that the edges of flexible OLED display panels are easily subjected to external forces and cause progressive black spots, thereby affecting the display quality.

[0005] In a first aspect, a flexible display module is provided, comprising: a flexible display panel, wherein the display surface of the flexible display panel close to the display side includes a display area and a frame area located outside the display area; a protective structure covering the edge of the flexible display panel, the protective structure including a first part located on the display surface of the flexible display panel, a second part located on the side of the flexible display panel, and a third part located on the back of the flexible display panel away from the display side, wherein the first part covers the frame area of ​​the flexible display panel, and the flexible display module can be fixed on the display device through at least one of the first part, the second part and the third part.

[0006] In a second aspect, a display device is provided, comprising: a housing; the above-mentioned flexible display module, wherein the flexible display module is located in the housing, and at least one of the first part, the second part and the third part of the protective structure is fixed to the housing.

[0007] In a third aspect, a method for manufacturing the flexible display module is provided, comprising:

[0008] forming a flexible display panel, wherein a display surface of the flexible display panel close to a display side includes a display area and a frame area located outside the display area;

[0009] A protective structure is formed to cover the edge of the flexible display panel, the protective structure including a first portion located on the display surface of the flexible display panel, a second portion located on the side surface of the flexible display panel, and a third portion located on the back surface of the flexible display panel away from the display side, wherein the first portion covers the frame area of ​​the flexible display panel, and the flexible display module can be fixed to the display device through at least one of the first portion, the second portion and the third portion. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] In order to more clearly illustrate the specific embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the specific embodiments or the description of the prior art. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying any creative work.

[0011] Figure 1 This is a schematic structural diagram of a flexible display module in some embodiments of the present application;

[0012] Figure 2 A schematic diagram showing the structure of a display device in some embodiments of the present application;

[0013] Figure 3 This is a schematic structural diagram of a flexible display module in some embodiments of the present application;

[0014] Figure 4 Schematic diagram of the manufacturing process of the protective structure in some embodiments of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0015] The technical solution of the present application will be described clearly and in detail below in conjunction with the drawings of the embodiments of the present application. Obviously, the embodiments described below are part of the embodiments of the present application rather than all the embodiments, and are only used to more clearly illustrate the technical solution of the present application. Therefore, they are only used as examples and cannot be used to limit the scope of protection of the present application. Based on the described embodiments of the present application, all other embodiments that can be obtained by those skilled in the art without creative work are within the scope of protection of the present application.

[0016] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein shall have the meanings commonly understood by those skilled in the art in the technical field of this application; the terms used herein are for the purpose of describing specific embodiments only and are not intended to limit this application; the terms "including" and "having" in the embodiments of this application and any variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions. The terms "first" and "second" in the embodiments of this application are only used to distinguish different objects and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number, specific order or primary and secondary relationship of the indicated technical features. In the embodiments of this application, unless otherwise stated, "multiple" means more than two.

[0017] Flexible OLED display panels have the advantages of being bendable, self-luminous, continuously adjustable in luminous color, high brightness, low power consumption, light weight, and wide viewing angle. They meet people's increasingly diversified demands for display products and have become a next-generation display technology with development prospects.

[0018] A flexible OLED display panel includes a flexible substrate and a light-emitting device disposed on the flexible substrate. The flexible substrate can be made of glass, polyimide (PI), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), etc. The light-emitting device is an OLED, which includes a stacked anode, an organic light-emitting layer, and a cathode. Under the action of an electric field, holes generated by the anode and electrons generated by the cathode migrate to the organic light-emitting layer. The two combine to produce energy excitons, which stimulate the organic light-emitting layer to produce visible light.

[0019] The flexible OLED display panel includes a display area and a non-display area (i.e., a border area) located outside the display area. The display area includes multiple pixel areas distributed in an array, each pixel area includes multiple adjacent sub-pixel areas. OLEDs of different colors can be arranged in the multiple sub-pixel areas, and the different colored OLEDs emit different colors of light to achieve color display. The colors of the light emitted by the OLEDs in the multiple sub-pixel areas can include, but are not limited to, red, green, and blue, and can also include yellow, white, etc.

[0020] It is understood that OLEDs of the same color can be arranged in multiple sub-pixel regions, for example, white OLEDs. In this case, a color filter can be arranged on the display side of the flexible OLED display panel. The filtering effect of the color filter can convert the white light emitted by the white OLED into light of different colors, thereby achieving color display. In other words, when the light emitted by the OLEDs in all sub-pixel regions is the same color, color display can also be achieved by arranging a color filter on the display side.

[0021] In related technologies, flexible OLED display panels include an OLED display substrate and a protective cover plate disposed on the OLED display substrate. The protective cover plate is positioned near the display side, and the light-emitting device is disposed on the OLED display substrate. As the strength of flexible OLED display panels increases, they can be manufactured without a package, meaning they do not require a protective cover plate, achieving further lightweight, thinner, and low-cost goals. However, for unpackaged flexible OLED display panels, external forces can easily cause progressive dark spots on the edges, affecting display quality.

[0022] To address the aforementioned technical issues, embodiments of the present application provide a flexible display module and display device. By providing a protective structure that covers the edges of the flexible display panel, the edges of the flexible display panel are protected, enhancing edge strength and alleviating the problem of progressive black spots easily caused by external forces on the edges, thereby ensuring display quality. Furthermore, the flexible display module can be secured to the display device via the protective structure. Because the protective structure extends from the display surface of the display panel through the sides to the back, it possesses high structural strength and reliability, thereby increasing assembly reliability and facilitating the realization of a narrow bezel.

[0023] The display device in the embodiment of the present application can be, but is not limited to, any device with a display function, such as a mobile phone, a laptop computer, a wearable device, a television, etc.

[0024] It is understandable that the flexible display panel in the embodiment of the present application is not limited to an OLED display panel, but may also be other display panels capable of achieving flexible display, such as a quantum dot electroluminescent display panel or a quantum dot photoluminescent display panel.

[0025] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0026] like Figure 1 As shown, according to some embodiments of the present application, a flexible display module is provided, which includes a flexible display panel 100. The display surface of the flexible display panel 100, which is close to the display side, includes a display area and a frame area (i.e., a non-display area) located outside the display area. After the flexible display module is assembled on a display device, the frame area of ​​the flexible display panel 100 corresponds to the frame of the display device.

[0027] The flexible display module also includes a protective structure 10 that covers the edge of the flexible display panel 100. The protective structure 10 includes a first portion 11 located on the display surface of the flexible display panel 100, a second portion 12 located on the side of the flexible display panel 100, and a third portion 13 located on the back side of the flexible display panel 100, away from the display side. In other words, the protective structure 10 extends from the display surface of the flexible display panel 100 through its side to the back side opposite the display surface.

[0028] The first portion 11 covers the frame area of ​​the flexible display panel 100 , and the flexible display module can be fixed on the display device through at least one of the first portion 11 , the second portion 12 and the third portion 13 .

[0029] Thus, by providing a protective structure 10 that covers the edge of the flexible display panel 100, and the protective structure 10 covers the border area of ​​the display surface, the edge strength of the flexible display panel 100 can be improved, thereby protecting the edge of the flexible display panel 100 without affecting normal display, thereby improving the problem of progressive black spots easily caused by external forces on the edge, and ensuring display quality. At the same time, the protective structure 10 can be used to fix the flexible display module to the display device. Since the protective structure 10 extends from the display surface of the flexible display panel 100 through the side to the back, the protective structure 10 can have higher strength and reliability, thereby increasing assembly reliability and facilitating the realization of a narrow border.

[0030] The flexible display panel in the embodiment of the present application can be any display panel capable of realizing flexible display, for example, an organic electroluminescent display panel, a quantum dot electroluminescent display panel, or a quantum dot photoluminescent display panel. The specific structure of the flexible display panel is not described in detail here.

[0031] The flexible display panel in the embodiment of the present application may not include a protective cover plate, that is, only include a display substrate. The display substrate is a flexible substrate, such as a glass substrate or a PI substrate. It is understood that the flexible display panel in the embodiment of the present application may also include a protective cover plate, that is, a protective cover plate is provided on the display side of the display substrate.

[0032] The display surface of the flexible display panel 100 close to the display side can be rectangular, square, oval, circular, etc., or can be an irregular shape. Taking the display surface of the flexible display panel 100 as a rectangle as an example, the widths of the border areas on the four sides of the display surface can be the same or not completely the same. For example, the widths of the upper border, left border, and right border of the display surface can be the same, and the width of the lower border can be greater than the widths of the other borders, or can be equal to the widths of the other borders. It should be noted that this is only an example and does not impose any restrictions on the shape of the display surface and the width of the border. The display surface of the appropriate shape and the width of the border can be selected according to actual application requirements.

[0033] In some embodiments, the flexible display module may further include an optical layer 200 disposed on the display surface of the flexible display panel 100 and a backing film 300 disposed on the back surface of the flexible display panel 100. The sides of the optical layer 200 may be aligned with the sides of the flexible display panel 100 in a direction perpendicular to the flexible display panel 100. The sides of the backing film 300 may be retracted a certain distance toward the center of the flexible display panel 100 relative to the sides of the flexible display panel 100. In this case, the first portion 11 of the protective structure 10 is located on the surface of the optical layer 200 near the display side; the second portion 12 covers the sides of the optical layer 200, the sides of the flexible display panel 100, and the sides of the backing film 300; and the third portion 13 is located on the surface of the backing film 300 facing away from the display side. Providing the optical layer 200 on the display side can improve display quality. The optical layer 200 may, for example, include a polarizer (POL) to reduce external reflected light and improve display quality. The back film 300 can be attached to the back surface of the flexible display panel 100 to prevent external impurities from entering the display panel and also provide support.

[0034] The material of the back film 300 may be, for example, PI or PET, so as not to affect the bendability of the flexible display panel.

[0035] In the embodiment of the present application, the protective structure 10 covering the edge of the flexible display panel 100 can be made of a material with a certain elastic modulus, such as rubber or silicone, so as to provide a buffering effect on external forces and better improve the problem of progressive black spots on the edges caused by external forces.

[0036] According to some embodiments of the present application, the protective structure can be bonded to the display device using adhesive. Due to the lightweight nature of the flexible display panel, adhesive bonding can ensure connection strength and reliability. Adhesive bonding is also easy to implement without requiring additional connection structures. The adhesive can be, for example, but not limited to, silicone or polyurethane resin (PU adhesive).

[0037] In some embodiments, as Figure 2 As shown, a sealant 1002 can be provided between the surface of the first portion 11 and the display device for bonding, and the flexible display module is bonded to the display device only through the first portion 11 of the protective structure 10. It is understandable that the flexible display module can also be bonded to the display device through the second portion 12 and / or the third portion 13 of the protective structure 10, or can also be bonded to the display device through the first portion 11 and the second portion 12, or the first portion 11 and the third portion 13 of the protective structure 10.

[0038] According to some embodiments of the present application, the first portion 11 covers the surface of the second portion 12 near the display side, that is, the first portion 11 extends outward relative to the edge of the flexible display panel 100, so that the surface area of ​​the first portion 11 near the display side is larger than the area of ​​the frame area. As a result, when the flexible display module is fixed to the display device at least by the first portion 11, the connection strength can be increased and the connection reliability can be improved. Taking the protective structure 10 as an example of being bonded to the display device by a frame glue, a frame glue 1002 can be set between the surface of the first portion 11 and the display device for bonding. Since the surface of the first portion 11 is larger than the area of ​​the frame area, the connection strength can be increased.

[0039] exist Figure 3 In the illustrated example, the unpackaged flexible display module includes a stacked back film (SCF) 300, a flexible display panel (PNL) 100, and an optical layer 200, such as a polarizer (POL), to reduce external reflected light and improve display quality. ① is the upper frame area of ​​the POL and PNL. Taking a 14-inch product as an example, the width of the upper frame area can be within 1.5mm. ② is the indented area of ​​the SCF relative to the PNL. Due to the influence of the bonding tolerance, the width of the indented area of ​​medium-sized products is ≥0.5mm. ③ is the effective support area of ​​the upper frame area PNL and POL, which is used for bonding with the display device. Only the effective support area ③ can provide effective bonding (bonding in the display area AA will block the display area and affect the display effect). Bonding at the corresponding position of the indented area ② will cause the PNL to deform and cannot provide bonding reliability. Therefore, taking the upper frame as an example, the width of the effective bonding area is ≤1mm. Similarly, the structure of the left and right frames is the same as the upper frame structure, and the width of the effective bonding area is ≤1mm. With subsequent upgrades to ultra-narrow bezel products, the effective adhesive area (i.e., effective support area) will continue to shrink. The effective adhesive width for the product's frame glue is typically required to be ≥1.5mm. Therefore, conventional designs without protective covers cannot effectively and reliably secure the flexible display module to the display device through the use of frame glue.

[0040] See also Figure 2 As shown, according to some embodiments of the present application, the protective structure 10 can be attached to the display device at least through the first portion 11. The effective attachment area of ​​the first portion 11 is the entire surface of the first portion 11 close to the display side. Therefore, the width of the effective attachment area of ​​the first portion 11 can at least correspond to the width of the upper frame area of ​​the POL and PNL, which is greater than Figure 3In the example shown, the width of the effective support area of ​​PNL and POL. In the case where the first portion 11 of the protective structure 10 not only covers the frame area of ​​the display surface but also extends to the surface of the second portion 12 covering the side of the flexible display panel 100, the surface area of ​​the first portion 11 can be further increased. Since the entire surface of the first portion 11 is the effective adhesive area, the width of the effective adhesive area of ​​the first portion 11 is greater than the width of the upper frame area of ​​POL and PNL. Therefore, relative Figure 3 As an illustrative example, the technical solution in the embodiment of the present application can effectively increase the width of the effective pasting area and ensure the reliability of the flexible display panel being pasted to the display device.

[0041] It is understood that the above is only an example of the adhesive assembly method to illustrate that the provision of a protective structure in the embodiment of the present application can improve assembly reliability. For other assembly methods, the provision of a protective structure in the embodiment of the present application can improve the edge strength of the flexible display panel and the space available for assembly, and can also improve assembly reliability.

[0042] Taking the display surface of the flexible display panel as a rectangle as an example, the width of the border area of ​​the flexible display panel in the embodiment of the present application may refer to the extension length of the border area of ​​one side of the flexible display panel in a direction perpendicular to the side.

[0043] It can be understood that the first part may also only cover the border area, and the first part and the second part are two relatively independent parts.

[0044] The solution in the embodiment of the present application provides a protection structure 10 covering the edge of the flexible display panel 100 , so that the flexible display module can be fixed to the display device through the protection structure 10 , thereby improving assembly reliability.

[0045] like Figure 1As shown, according to some embodiments of the present application, at least one edge of the flexible display panel 100 has a bending structure 101, which bends toward and extends to the back of the flexible display panel 100. The bending structure 101 includes a bending portion 1011 corresponding to the side of the flexible display panel 100 and a flat portion 1012 corresponding to the back of the flexible display panel 100. On the side where the bending structure 101 is located, the side of the flexible display panel 100 is an outer bending surface of the bending portion 1011 facing away from the center of the flexible display panel 100, the second portion 12 of the protective structure 10 covers the outer bending surface of the bending portion 1011, and the third portion 13 of the protective structure 10 is located on the surface of the flat portion 1012 facing away from the back of the flexible display panel 100. In this case, the driving circuit (PCB) 105 can be set on the back of the flexible display panel 100, and the bending structure 101 can include the circuit area of ​​the flexible display panel 100 and the circuit area where the circuit (IC) 103 is located. The circuit area can correspond to the back of the flexible display panel 100, so that the circuit 103 can be connected to the driving circuit 105 through the flexible circuit (FPC) 104. By bending the circuit area and the circuit area, it is conducive to achieving a narrow frame.

[0046] A cushion layer 106 can be provided on the back of the flexible display panel 100 at a position corresponding to the flat portion 1012 of the bending structure 101 to facilitate fixing the flat portion 1012 to the back of the flexible display panel 100 via a first adhesive layer (e.g., a PET adhesive layer) 107. The driving circuit 105 can be bonded to the back of the flexible display panel 100 via a second adhesive layer (e.g., an AD adhesive layer) 108.

[0047] In some embodiments, a protective adhesive layer 102 may be disposed on the outer side of the bending structure 101 , and the second portion 12 of the protective structure 10 covers the outer surface of the protective adhesive layer 102 facing away from the center of the flexible display panel 100 .

[0048] Continue to see Figure 3 As an example, in the lower frame area, ④ is the distance between the bending areas of POL200 and PNL100. Taking a 16-inch product as an example, it is usually ≤1mm. ⑥ is the retracted area of ​​SCF300 relative to the main area of ​​PNL100. The width of the retracted area is 0.5mm. ⑤ is the effective supporting area of ​​PNL100 and POL200, which is less than or equal to 0.5mm.

[0049] See also Figure 2As shown, according to some embodiments of the present application, the protective structure 10 can be attached to the display device at least through the first portion 11. The effective attachment area of ​​the first portion 11 is the entire surface of the first portion 11 close to the display side. The width of the effective attachment area of ​​the first portion 11 can at least correspond to the width of the upper frame area of ​​the POL and PNL, and is greater than Figure 3 In the example shown, the width of the effective support area of ​​PNL and POL. When the first part 11 of the protective structure 10 not only covers the frame area of ​​the display surface, but also extends to the surface of the second part 12 covering the outer bending surface of the bending portion 1011, the surface area of ​​the first part 11 can be further increased. Since the entire surface of the first part 11 is the effective bonding area, the width of the effective bonding area of ​​the first part 11 is much larger than the width of the upper frame area of ​​POL and PNL. Therefore, relative Figure 3 As an illustrative example, the technical solution in the embodiment of the present application can effectively increase the width of the effective pasting area, thereby ensuring the reliability of the flexible display panel 100 being pasted to the display device.

[0050] According to some embodiments of the present application, the protective structure 10 can be manufactured by a dispensing process, that is, the first part 11, the second part 12 and the third part 13 of the protective structure 10 are formed by a dispensing process, so that the first part 11, the second part 12 and the third part 13 can be tightly combined to form an integrated structure with good structural strength and reliability.

[0051] In some embodiments, the first portion 11, the second portion 12, and the third portion 13 of the protective structure 10 can be sequentially formed through multiple dispensing processes. Producing the protective structure 10 through multiple dispensing processes can simplify the manufacturing process of the protective structure 10, reduce costs, ensure structural strength, and enhance protection of the outer edge of the flexible display panel 100, thereby facilitating the formation of an integrated protective structure 10. The specific manufacturing method will be described in detail below.

[0052] For ease of understanding and description, when the same part is produced through two dispensing processes, the parts formed by the two dispensing processes are defined as two sub-parts, and the two sub-parts are an integrated structure. When two parts are formed through a single dispensing process, such as a portion of the first part 11 and a portion of the second part 12, the structure formed through the single dispensing process is still divided into two parts for the purpose of description.

[0053] In some embodiments, see Figure 4As shown, the first portion 11 of the protective structure 10 includes a first sub-portion 111, a second sub-portion 112, and a third sub-portion 113. The first sub-portion 111 and the second sub-portion 112 cover the border area of ​​the display surface of the flexible display panel 100, wherein the first sub-portion 111 is located on one side of the border area near the center of the flexible display panel 100. Furthermore, the first sub-portion 111, the second sub-portion 112, and the third sub-portion 113 are sequentially manufactured through a three-step dispensing process, while at least a portion of the second portion 12 and the third sub-portion are an integral structure manufactured through a single dispensing process. In other words, a portion of the first portion 11 covers the border area, while another portion is located on the surface of the second portion 12 near the display side. This increases the surface area of ​​the first portion 11, and when the flexible display module is attached to the display device via at least the surface of the first portion 11, connection reliability can be improved even with narrow or even extremely narrow borders.

[0054] According to some embodiments of the present application, the surface of the first portion 11 has multiple protruding structures and / or multiple concave structures, thereby further increasing the effective surface area of ​​the first portion 11. When the flexible display module is attached to the display device at least through the surface of the first portion 11, the connection reliability and connection strength can be further improved in the case of narrow or even extremely narrow borders. Figure 1 and Figure 2 In the illustrated example, the surface of the first portion 11 has a plurality of recessed structures 20 .

[0055] It is understandable that the surface of the second part 12 facing away from the side of the flexible display panel 100, and / or the surface of the third part 13 facing away from the back of the flexible display panel 100 can also be provided with multiple protruding structures and / or multiple recessed structures, so as to further increase the effective area of ​​the surface of the second part 12 and / or the third part 13. When the flexible display module is adhered to the display device at least through the surface of the second part 12 and / or the third part 13, the connection reliability and connection strength can be further improved in the case of a narrow frame or even an extremely narrow frame.

[0056] See also Figure 2 As shown, according to some embodiments of the present application, a display device is further provided, comprising: a housing 1000; a flexible display module according to the above-described embodiments, the flexible display module being located within the housing 1000, and at least one of the first portion 11, the second portion 12, and the third portion 13 of the protective structure 10 being fixed to the housing 1000. By employing the flexible display module according to the embodiments of the present application, the assembly reliability with the housing can be improved, and a narrow bezel can be achieved. Furthermore, installing the flexible display module within the housing can provide protection.

[0057] In some embodiments, the housing 1000 includes a mounting frame 1001, which encloses an opening that matches the display area of ​​the flexible display panel 100. The first portion 11 of the protective structure 10 is connected to the mounting frame 1001. As a result, the frame area of ​​the flexible display panel 100 corresponds to the mounting frame of the housing, and does not affect normal display.

[0058] In some embodiments, the surface of the first portion 11 near the display side has multiple raised structures and / or multiple recessed structures, and a sealant 1002 is provided between the surface of the first portion 11 and the inner surface of the mounting frame 1001 to bond the first portion 11 to the mounting frame 1001. Thus, the uneven surface can increase the surface area of ​​the first portion 11, forming an effective bonding area, which helps to improve the bonding strength and reliability of the first portion 11 and the mounting frame 1001. Furthermore, the bonding method is simple, requiring no additional connecting structure, making it easy to implement.

[0059] Combine Figure 1 As shown, according to some embodiments of the present application, a method for manufacturing the flexible display module in the above embodiment is also provided, including:

[0060] A flexible display panel is formed, wherein the display surface of the flexible display panel 100 close to the display side includes a display area and a frame area located outside the display area;

[0061] A protective structure 10 is formed to cover the edge of the flexible display panel 100, and the protective structure 10 includes a first portion 11 located on the display surface of the flexible display panel 100, a second portion 12 located on the side of the flexible display panel 100, and a third portion 13 located on the back of the flexible display panel 100 away from the display side.

[0062] The first portion 11 covers the frame area of ​​the flexible display panel 100 , and the flexible display module can be fixed on the display device through at least one of the first portion 11 , the second portion 12 and the third portion 13 .

[0063] The steps of forming the flexible display panel 100 may include forming a flexible display substrate. Taking a flexible OLED display substrate as an example, the steps of forming the flexible display substrate may include: forming a thin film transistor array substrate; forming a pixel definition layer to define a plurality of sub-pixel regions, each sub-pixel region including a thin film transistor; forming an OLED anode and an organic light-emitting layer within the sub-pixel region, with the anode electrically connected to the drain electrode of the thin film transistor; forming a cathode across the entire surface; and forming an encapsulation layer.

[0064] The step of forming the flexible display panel 100 may further include forming a protective cover plate on the display side of the flexible display substrate. It is understandable that the flexible display panel 100 may also not include a protective cover plate.

[0065] In some embodiments, forming a protective structure 10 covering the edge of the flexible display panel 100 includes:

[0066] The first portion 11 , the second portion 12 and the third portion 13 are sequentially formed through multiple dispensing processes.

[0067] The protective structure 10 is manufactured by multiple dispensing processes, which can simplify the manufacturing process of the protective structure 10, reduce costs, ensure structural strength, and enhance the protection of the outer edge of the flexible display panel 100, thereby facilitating the formation of an integrated protective structure 10.

[0068] In some embodiments, the first portion 11 includes a first sub-portion 111, a second sub-portion 112, and a third sub-portion 113, see Figure 4 As shown, for the frame area on one side, the first part 11, the second part 12 and the third part 13 of the side frame area are sequentially formed by multiple dispensing processes, which may include:

[0069] On one side of the frame area close to the center of the flexible display panel Panel (PNL for short), a first sub-portion 111 is formed by a dispensing process using a dispensing device 2000;

[0070] Tilt the other side of the flexible display panel PNL opposite to the side toward the back side of the flexible display panel PNL at a first preset angle clockwise;

[0071] Glue is dispensed on the side of the first sub-portion 111 facing away from the center of the flexible display panel PNL through a glue dispensing process, and after a preset glue dispensing time, the other side of the flexible display panel PNL is rotated counterclockwise by a first preset angle at a preset angular velocity, and glue is continuously dispensed during the counterclockwise rotation to form a second sub-portion 112. The first sub-portion 111 and the second sub-portion 112 cover the frame area;

[0072] Rotate the other side of the flexible display panel 100 90 degrees clockwise;

[0073] The third sub-portion 113 is formed on the side of the second sub-portion and at least a portion of the second portion 12 is formed on the side of the flexible display panel 100 by a dispensing process.

[0074] As a result, each dispensing process forms a partial structure while providing support for the next dispensing process, allowing multiple dispensing processes to form a protective structure 10 that covers the outer edge of the flexible display panel PNL. For example, the pre-formed first sub-section 111 can form a dam structure. Then, after clockwise rotation, the second sub-section 112 can be formed by dispensing glue between the side of the first sub-section 111 and the display surface of the flexible display panel PNL. Furthermore, due to the certain fluidity of the adhesive, uniform coating can be achieved.

[0075] In some embodiments, the first sub-portion 111 and the third sub-portion 113 are made of a high-viscosity adhesive with low fluidity to enable formation of a dam structure. The second sub-portion 112 can be made of a medium-viscosity adhesive with high fluidity to enable uniform coating. It should be noted that the terms high-viscosity adhesive and medium-viscosity adhesive are relative terms, and a viscose with suitable fluidity can be selected based on actual needs.

[0076] The first preset angle may be, for example, 30° to 45°, and a suitable angle may be selected according to the actual product. In the counterclockwise rotation process of continuous dispensing, in order to ensure the dispensing quality, it is necessary to rotate slowly.

[0077] In some embodiments, see Figure 4 As shown, the flexible display module includes a flexible display panel PNL, a polarizer POL disposed on the display surface of the flexible display panel PNL, and a back film SCF disposed on the back of the flexible display panel PNL. The side edges of the polarizer POL are aligned with the side edges of the flexible display panel PNL, and the side edges of the back film SCF are retracted relative to the side edges of the flexible display panel PNL. In this case, in the above embodiment, the third sub-portion 113 of the first portion 11 is formed on the side of the second sub-portion 112 by a dispensing process, and a portion 121 of the second portion is formed on the side of the polarizer POL and the flexible display panel PNL. For the frame area on one side, the first portion 11, the second portion 12, and the third portion 13 of the side frame area are sequentially formed by multiple dispensing processes, and the following can also be included:

[0078] The other side of the flexible display panel PNL is further rotated clockwise by a second preset angle, which may be, for example, 30° to 45°. A suitable angle may be selected according to the actual product.

[0079] The other part 122 of the second part is formed on the back side of the part 121 of the second part away from the display side and the side of the back film SCF by a dispensing process. The other part 122 of the second part can be made of medium-viscosity glue, which has certain fluidity and can achieve uniform coating.

[0080] Continue rotating the other side of the flexible display panel PNL clockwise until the back side of the flexible display panel PNL faces upward;

[0081] The third portion 13 is formed on the rear surface of the flexible display panel PNL and the rear surface of the other portion 122 of the second portion through a dispensing process.

[0082] After the glue is applied and the glue has not completely solidified, a surface convex-concave pressure head 21 can be used to lightly press the surface of the first part of the frame area to produce a concave-convex texture on the surface of the first part, so that the flexible display module and the display device can obtain better bonding strength when they are bonded through the frame glue, further improving the assembly reliability.

[0083] At this point, the manufacturing of the protection structure 10 in one side frame area is completed through multiple dispensing processes. As for the manufacturing of the protection structure 10 in other side frame areas, the manufacturing is similar to the above.

[0084] Although the embodiments or examples of the present disclosure have been described with reference to the accompanying drawings, it should be understood that the above-mentioned methods, systems and devices are merely exemplary embodiments or examples, and the scope of the present invention is not limited by these embodiments or examples, but is only limited by the claims after authorization and their equivalents. Various elements in the embodiments or examples may be omitted or replaced by their equivalents. In addition, the steps may be performed in an order different from that described in this disclosure. Further, the various elements in the embodiments or examples may be combined in various ways. It is important that as technology evolves, many of the elements described herein may be replaced by equivalent elements that appear after this disclosure.

Claims

1. A flexible display module, characterized in that: include: A flexible display panel, wherein a display surface of the flexible display panel close to a display side includes a display area and a frame area located outside the display area; A protective structure covering the edge of the flexible display panel, the protective structure comprising a first portion located on the display surface of the flexible display panel, a second portion located on the side of the flexible display panel, and a third portion located on the back of the flexible display panel away from the display side. The first portion covers the frame area of ​​the flexible display panel, and the flexible display module can be fixed on the display device through at least one of the first portion, the second portion and the third portion; The first portion includes a first sub-portion, a second sub-portion, and a third sub-portion, the first sub-portion and the second sub-portion covering the frame area, wherein the first sub-portion is located on a side of the frame area close to the center of the flexible display panel; And wherein, the first sub-part, the second sub-part and the third sub-part are made in sequence through three dispensing processes, and at least a part of the second part and the third sub-part are an integrated structure made through one dispensing process.

2. The flexible display module according to claim 1, wherein: The first portion covers a surface of the second portion close to the display side.

3. The flexible display module according to claim 1, wherein: The flexible display module is fixed to the housing of the display device at least through the first part, and the surface of the first part has a plurality of protruding structures and / or a plurality of concave structures.

4. The flexible display module according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: At least one edge of the flexible display panel has a bending structure, and the bending structure bends toward the back side of the flexible display panel and extends to the back side of the flexible display panel; The bending structure includes a bending portion corresponding to a side surface of the flexible display panel and a flat portion corresponding to a back surface of the flexible display panel; On the side where the bending structure is located, the side surface of the flexible display panel is the outer bending surface of the bending portion facing away from the center of the flexible display panel, the second part of the protective structure covers the outer bending surface of the bending portion, and the third part of the protective structure is located on the surface of the planar portion facing away from the back of the flexible display panel.

5. The flexible display module according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: The first part, the second part and the third part are made in sequence through multiple dispensing processes.

6. The flexible display module according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: Also includes: an optical layer provided on the display surface of the flexible display panel, wherein the optical layer and the side edge of the flexible display panel are aligned in a direction perpendicular to the flexible display panel; as well as a backing film provided on the back surface of the flexible display panel, wherein the side edge of the backing film is retracted inwardly by a preset distance toward the center of the flexible display panel relative to the side edge of the flexible display panel; The first part of the protective structure is located on the surface of the optical layer close to the display side; the second part covers the back of the optical layer and the flexible display panel, as well as the side of the back film; the third part is located on the surface of the back film away from the display side.

7. A display device, characterized in that: include: case; The flexible display module according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the flexible display module is located in the shell, and at least one of the first part, the second part, and the third part of the protective structure is fixed to the shell.

8. The display device according to claim 7, wherein: The housing includes a mounting frame, the mounting frame enclosing an opening that matches the display area of ​​the flexible display panel, and the first portion of the protective structure is connected to the mounting frame.

9. The display device according to claim 8, wherein The surface of the first part close to the display side has multiple protrusions and / or multiple recesses. Frame glue is provided between the surface of the first part and the inner surface of the mounting frame so that the first part is bonded to the mounting frame.

10. A method for manufacturing a flexible display module according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: include: forming a flexible display panel, wherein a display surface of the flexible display panel close to a display side includes a display area and a frame area located outside the display area; forming a protective structure covering the edge of the flexible display panel, the protective structure comprising a first portion located on the display surface of the flexible display panel, a second portion located on the side surface of the flexible display panel, and a third portion located on the back surface of the flexible display panel away from the display side, The first part covers the frame area of ​​the flexible display panel, and the flexible display module can be fixed on the display device through at least one of the first part, the second part and the third part.

11. The manufacturing method according to claim 10, characterized in that: The protective structure formed to cover the edge of the flexible display panel includes: The first part, the second part and the third part are formed in sequence through multiple dispensing processes.

12. The manufacturing method according to claim 11, characterized in that: The first portion includes a first sub-portion, a second sub-portion, and a third sub-portion; For the frame area on one side, the first part, the second part, and the third part of the side frame area are sequentially formed by multiple dispensing processes, including: forming the first sub-portion on one side of the frame area close to the center of the flexible display panel by a dispensing process; Tilt the other side of the flexible display panel opposite to the side toward the back side of the flexible display panel at a preset angle clockwise; dispensing glue on a side of the first sub-portion away from the center of the flexible display panel through a glue dispensing process, and rotating the other side of the flexible display panel counterclockwise by a preset angle at a preset angular velocity after a preset glue dispensing time, and continuously dispensing glue during the counterclockwise rotation to form the second sub-portion, wherein the first sub-portion and the second sub-portion cover the frame area; Rotating the other side of the flexible display panel 90° clockwise; The third sub-portion is formed on the side of the second sub-portion by a dispensing process, and at least a portion of the second portion is formed on the side of the flexible display panel.

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