Flexible display panel and electronic equipment

Abstract

The invention discloses a flexible display panel and electronic equipment, the flexible display panel comprises an array substrate, an opposite substrate and a first capsule box, the array substrate is of a flexible structure, the opposite substrate is opposite to the array substrate in a first direction, the opposite substrate is of a flexible structure, the first capsule box is arranged between the array substrate and the opposite substrate, and the first capsule box is arranged between the array substrate and the opposite substrate. A plurality of microcapsules are arranged in the first capsule box, the flexible display panel is provided with a foldable area, the array substrate and the opposite substrate can be bent in the foldable area, and the first capsule box is located in the foldable area. The flexible display panel is high in display uniformity.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of flexible display panels, and in particular to a flexible display panel and an electronic device. Background Art

[0002] Flexible display panels are ultra-thin and ultra-light display screens. Their main working principle is to drive particles to move and display colors through the array substrate and the upper and lower layers of pixel electrodes and common electrodes of the electronic film. This display technology has the advantages of bright colors and high resolution and is widely used in various electronic devices. In recent years, with the development of science and technology, flexible display panels have also begun to develop in the direction of flexible display, that is, flexible display panels that can be bent and folded.

[0003] In the existing technology, the microcapsules in the foldable area of ​​the flexible display panel will move and accumulate to both sides of the flexible display panel, thereby causing the problem of uneven display. Summary of the invention

[0004] The purpose of the present application is to provide a flexible display panel and an electronic device to solve the problem of uneven display of the flexible display panel.

[0005] To achieve the purpose of this application, this application provides the following technical solutions:

[0006] In a first aspect, the present application provides a flexible display panel, comprising an array substrate, an opposing substrate and a first capsule box, wherein the opposing substrate is opposite to the array substrate in a first direction, the first capsule box is arranged between the array substrate and the opposing substrate, and the first capsule box has a plurality of microcapsules therein; wherein the flexible display panel has a foldable area, the array substrate and the opposing substrate are bendable in the foldable area, and the first capsule box is located in the foldable area.

[0007] In one embodiment, the first capsule box has a first opening and a second opening opposite to each other in a second direction, and the flexible display panel also includes a first spacer column and a second spacer column, the first spacer column is arranged at the first opening, and the second spacer column is arranged at the second opening, the first spacer column and the second spacer column are both deformable structures, and the second direction intersects with the first direction.

[0008] In one embodiment, the flexible display panel has a minimum folding angle A1 and a maximum folding angle A2; the folding angle of the flexible display panel is A, and when A=A1, the flexible display panel is in a flattened state, and the first opening and the second opening are in an open state, and when A is greater than A1 and less than A2, the first spacer column and the second spacer column are both deformed to make the first opening and the second opening in a blocked state, and when A=A2, the first opening and the second opening are in an open state.

[0009] In one embodiment, the flexible display panel also has an intermediate folding angle A3, satisfying: A1<A3<A2, and A2-A3<A3-A1; when A is greater than A1 and less than or equal to A3, the first spacer column and the second spacer column are both deformed to make the first opening and the second opening in a blocked state, and when A is greater than A3 and less than or equal to A2, the first spacer column and the second spacer column are both deformed to make the first opening and the second opening in an open state.

[0010] In one embodiment, the flexible display panel is further provided with a pressure sensor, which is used to detect the pressure applied to the outside by the first capsule box when the flexible display panel is bent, and the pressure detected by the pressure sensor is used to control the deformation of the first spacer column and the second spacer column.

[0011] In one embodiment, the pressure sensor includes a first pressure sensor and a second pressure sensor, the first pressure sensor and the second pressure sensor are both arranged on the array substrate, the first pressure sensor is connected to the side of the first capsule box having the first opening, and the second pressure sensor is connected to the side of the first capsule box having the second opening.

[0012] In one embodiment, a first adjustment space and a second adjustment space are also formed between the array substrate and the opposing substrate, the first adjustment space is located on a side of the first capsule box where the first opening is provided, and the second adjustment space is located on a side of the first capsule box where the second opening is provided, the first adjustment space is connected to the first opening, and the second adjustment space is connected to the second opening; when A is greater than A3 and less than or equal to A2, the first spacer column and the second spacer column are both deformed to make the first opening and the second opening in an open state, and at least part of the microcapsules in the first capsule box flow between the first capsule box and the first adjustment space through the first opening, and flow between the first capsule box and the second adjustment space through the second opening.

[0013] In one embodiment, the flexible display panel further includes a second capsule box and a third capsule box, the second capsule box and the third capsule box are both arranged between the array substrate and the opposing substrate, the second capsule box and the first capsule box are spaced apart, and the space between the two forms the first adjustment space, the third capsule box and the first capsule box are spaced apart, and the space between the two forms the second adjustment space, and the second capsule box and the third capsule box both have a plurality of microcapsules.

[0014] In one embodiment, the second capsule box has a third opening, the third opening is opposite to the first opening, and the first adjustment space is connected to the first opening and the third opening; the third capsule box has a fourth opening, the fourth opening is opposite to the second opening, and the second adjustment space is connected to the second opening and the fourth opening.

[0015] In a second aspect, the present application further provides an electronic device, comprising a housing and a flexible display panel as described in any one of the various embodiments of the first aspect, wherein the flexible display panel is accommodated in the housing.

[0016] By setting a first capsule box between the array substrate and the opposing substrate, the first capsule box is located in the foldable area of ​​the flexible display panel, and the movement of microcapsules in the first capsule box is restricted by the first capsule box, the microcapsules in the foldable area can be suppressed from moving toward the edge position of the flexible display panel, thereby ensuring the uniformity of the microcapsule density of the flexible display panel, thereby improving the display uniformity of the flexible display panel, and achieving a good display effect. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] In order to more clearly illustrate the implementation methods of the present application or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings required for use in the implementation methods or the description of the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some implementation methods of the present application. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying any creative work.

[0018] Figure 1 is a partial schematic diagram of a flexible display panel of an embodiment;

[0019] Figure 2 is a partial schematic diagram of a flexible display panel in a bent state according to an embodiment;

[0020] Figure 3 is a partial schematic diagram of another bending state of a flexible display panel of an embodiment;

[0021] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of a flexible display panel of an embodiment;

[0022] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of an electronic device of an embodiment.

[0023] Description of reference numerals:

[0024] 1000-Electronic equipment;

[0025] 100-flexible display panel, 10-array substrate, 11-flexible substrate, 12-active switch layer, 13-pixel electrode layer, 20-opposing substrate, 21-opposing substrate, 22-common electrode, 30-first capsule box, 31-first opening, 32-second opening, 40-microcapsule, 51-foldable area, 52-first connection area, 53-second connection area, 61-first spacer column, 62-second spacer column, 70-pressure sensor, 81-first adjustment space, 82-second adjustment space, 91-second capsule box, 911-third opening, 92-third capsule box, 921-fourth opening;

[0026] 200-housing;

[0027] X-first direction, Y-second direction. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] The following will be combined with the drawings in the embodiments of the present application to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present application, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in the present application, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0029] It should be noted that when a component is said to be "fixed to" another component, it can be directly on the other component or there can be a central component. When a component is said to be "connected to" another component, it can be directly connected to the other component or there can be a central component at the same time.

[0030] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used in this application have the same meaning as those commonly understood by those skilled in the art to which this application belongs. The terms used in this application and in the specification are only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit this application. The term "and / or" used in this application includes any and all combinations of one or more of the related listed items.

[0031] In conjunction with the accompanying drawings, some embodiments of the present application are described in detail below. In the absence of conflict, the following embodiments and features in the embodiments can be combined with each other.

[0032] Please refer to Figure 1An embodiment of the present application provides a flexible display panel 100 , including an array substrate 10 , an opposing substrate 20 and a first capsule box 30 .

[0033] Define the direction first. Please refer to Figure 1 , X is a first direction, Y is a second direction, and the first direction X intersects the second direction Y. Optionally, the first direction X is perpendicular to the second direction Y. Optionally, when the flexible display panel 100 is in a flat state without being bent or folded, the first direction X is a thickness direction of the flexible display panel 100 .

[0034] The array substrate 10 is a flexible structure. The opposing substrate 20 is opposite to the array substrate 10 in the first direction X. The opposing substrate 20 is a flexible structure. The first capsule box 30 is disposed between the array substrate 10 and the opposing substrate 20 . The first capsule box 30 has a plurality of microcapsules 40 therein.

[0035] refer to Figure 1 The array substrate 10 includes a flexible substrate 11 and an active switch layer 12 disposed on the flexible substrate 11. The flexible substrate 11 may be made of a polymer material or an inorganic non-metallic material. Optionally, the active switch layer 12 includes a first metal layer, a first insulating layer, a semiconductor layer, a second metal layer, and a second insulating layer stacked on the flexible substrate 11. A plurality of active switches are formed in the active switch layer 12. The active switch may be a top gate structure or a bottom gate structure. The embodiment of the present application is explained by taking the active switch as a bottom gate structure as an example. The first metal layer includes a gate and a common electrode, the second metal layer includes a source and a drain, and the gate, the semiconductor layer, the source, and the drain constitute an active switch.

[0036] Optionally, the array substrate 10 further includes a pixel electrode layer 13 disposed on the active switch layer 12. Optionally, the materials of the first metal layer, the second metal layer and the pixel electrode layer 13 can be Al, Cu, Ag, etc., and the material used should avoid the pixel electrode layer 13 of the flexible display panel 100 from cracking due to insufficient toughness in the foldable area 51, and there is no specific limitation. When preparing the pixel electrode layer 13, a protective layer (not shown in the figure) can also be provided on the surface of the pixel electrode layer 13 to protect the pixel electrode layer 13. The material of the protective layer includes Al2O3, Mo, etc., and there is no limitation. Optionally, the orthographic projection of the pixel electrode on the flexible substrate 11 covers the orthographic projection of the active switch on the flexible substrate 11, so as to avoid light irradiating the source and drain of the active switch to generate photocurrent. Optionally, the pixel electrode layer 13 includes a plurality of pixel electrodes, and the plurality of pixel electrodes correspond one to one with the plurality of active switches, and one pixel electrode corresponds to one pixel unit.

[0037] The counter substrate 20 includes a counter substrate 21 and a common electrode 22 disposed on the counter substrate 21 . The counter substrate 21 is also a flexible substrate. The material of the common electrode 22 can be Al, Cu, Ag, etc.

[0038] Optionally, two side walls of the first capsule box 30 that are opposite to each other in the first direction are connected to the array substrate 10 and the opposing substrate 20, respectively. The material of the first capsule box 30 can be selected from a material with certain elasticity and strength, such as polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). The wall thickness of the first capsule box 30 can be approximately 0.2 mm-0.7 mm, specifically 0.2 mm, 0.3 mm, 0.4 mm, 0.5 mm, 0.6 mm, 0.7 mm, etc., without limitation. The first capsule box 30 may include an electrophoretic coating liquid and a plurality of microcapsules 40 uniformly distributed in the electrophoretic coating liquid.

[0039] Microencapsulated electrophoretic display technology uses the principle of electrophoretic display to encapsulate pigment particles and dark dye solution in capsules, realizing electrophoretic display in the capsules, thereby suppressing the agglomeration and deposition of electrophoretic particles within a range larger than the capsule size, improving its stability and extending its service life.

[0040] The capsule wall of the microcapsule includes gelatin and a negatively charged polymer material. The negatively charged polymer material is a negatively charged polymer material that can form a capsule wall with gelatin and is well known to those skilled in the art, without limitation. The microcapsule contains a suspension and a plurality of charged pigment particles dispersed in the suspension. The charged color particles can be inorganic particles and / or organic particles, wherein the inorganic particles can be one or more of titanium dioxide, zinc white and cadmium yellow, and the organic particles can be one or more of scarlet powder, toluidine red, titanium cyanine blue and pigment yellow, without limitation. When the flexible display panel 100 is black and white, the charged pigment particles include black electrophoretic particles and white electrophoretic particles. When the flexible display panel 100 is color, the charged pigment particles include color electrophoretic particles.

[0041] The solvent in the suspension is an organic solvent, which may be an epoxy compound (such as decane oxide), an aromatic compound (such as toluene, naphthalene), a halogenated hydrocarbon (such as tetrachloroethylene) and its oligomer (such as polytrichloroethylene, with a degree of polymerization of 2 to 10), wherein fluorine-containing (or perfluorinated) organic solvents are more suitable as suspension solutions due to their high density, good chemical stability and environmental friendliness. More specifically, the suspension may also include a charge control agent, which may be an organic sulfate (calcium dodecylbenzenesulfonate, barium dinonylnaphthalenesulfonate, etc.), a metal soap, an organic amine, an organic phosphate or a phosphate ester, etc. In order to enhance the efficiency of the charge control agent, a certain amount of a charge auxiliary agent, such as a polyhydroxy compound or an amino alcohol compound, may also be added to the suspension.

[0042] The microcapsules 40 can be stably dispersed in the first capsule box 30 by the electrophoretic coating liquid. The electrophoretic coating liquid contains a resin monomer and / or an unsaturated resin, and one end of the olefinic aldehyde compound reacts with the gelatin in the capsule wall of the microcapsule 40 and the other end reacts with the double bonds in the resin monomer and / or the unsaturated resin to form a strong molecular structure, so that the microcapsules 40 are stably dispersed in the first capsule box 30.

[0043] The flexible display panel 100 has a foldable area 51 , the array substrate 10 and the opposing substrate 20 are bendable in the foldable area 51 , and the first capsule box 30 is located in the foldable area 51 .

[0044] The foldable area 51 includes the folding line of the flexible display panel 100 and partial areas on both sides of the folding line. Optionally, in the orthographic projection of the first direction X, the first capsule box 30 may coincide with the foldable area 51, or the first capsule box 30 is located in the foldable area 51, or the foldable area 51 is located in the first capsule box 30, and all of the above methods are possible and are not specifically limited.

[0045] Optionally, the number of foldable areas 51 may be one or more, without limitation. For example, the flexible display panel 100 is a single-folding flexible display panel 100, and the flexible display panel 100 can be folded horizontally or vertically in the foldable area 51; or, the flexible display panel 100 is a triple-folding flexible display panel 100, and the number of foldable areas 51 is two, and the flexible display panel 100 can be folded in both foldable areas 51. The number of the first capsule boxes 30 can correspond to the number of the foldable areas 51, without limitation.

[0046] For the existing bendable and foldable flexible display panel 100, the bending of the curved flexible display panel 100 will cause the microcapsules 40 at the top of the arc of the flexible display panel 100 to move to the edge position, resulting in a low density of microcapsules 40 in the middle position (i.e., the foldable position) of the flexible display panel 100, and a high density of microcapsules 40 at the edge position. Since the flexible display panel 100 displays by reflecting ambient light, the density of the microcapsules 40 in the middle position decreases, resulting in a corresponding decrease in brightness and resolution, while the density of the microcapsules 40 at the edge position increases, resulting in an increase in the corresponding brightness, which will cause the display of the flexible display panel 100 to be uneven.

[0047] Therefore, in the embodiment of the present application, by setting the first capsule box 30 between the array substrate 10 and the opposing substrate 20, the first capsule box 30 is located in the foldable area 51 of the flexible display panel 100, and the movement of the microcapsules 40 in the first capsule box 30 is restricted by the first capsule box 30, which can inhibit the microcapsules 40 in the foldable area 51 from moving toward the edge of the flexible display panel 100, thereby ensuring the uniformity of the density of the microcapsules 40 of the flexible display panel 100, thereby improving the display uniformity of the flexible display panel 100, and achieving a good display effect.

[0048] In one embodiment, reference Figure 1 The first capsule box 30 has a first opening 31 and a second opening 32 opposite to each other in the second direction Y. The flexible display panel 100 also includes a first spacer column 61 and a second spacer column 62. The first spacer column 61 is arranged at the first opening 31, and the second spacer column 62 is arranged at the second opening 32. The first spacer column 61 and the second spacer column 62 are both deformable structures.

[0049] The sizes of the first spacer 61 and the second spacer 62 in the first direction X may vary, that is, the first spacer 61 and the second spacer 62 may be extended or shortened in the first direction X. Optionally, the maximum size of the first spacer 61 in the first direction X is greater than the size of the first opening 31 in the first direction X, and the maximum size of the second spacer 62 in the first direction X is greater than the size of the second opening 32 in the first direction X, so as to close the first opening 31 and the second opening 32.

[0050] The first spacer column 61 and the second spacer column 62 can be arranged on the array substrate 10 or the opposing substrate 20. Optionally, the first spacer column 61 and the second spacer column 62 can be a thermal deformation structure, a magnetostrictive structure, a mechanical telescopic structure, etc., or any other feasible deformable structure, without specific limitation. For example, the first spacer column 61 and the second spacer column 62 are made of a magnetic material with a magnetostrictive effect. When magnetized by an external magnetic field, the magnetic domains inside them will be rearranged, causing the first spacer column 61 and the second spacer column 62 to slightly extend or shorten in the magnetization direction; or, the first spacer column 61 and the second spacer column 62 are made of a thermal deformation material with a thermal expansion and contraction effect, and the extension or shortening of the first spacer column 61 and the second spacer column 62 is controlled by heating or cooling the first spacer column 61 and the second spacer column 62, without specific limitation.

[0051] By setting the first spacer column 61 and the second spacer column 62, the first spacer column 61 can be used to close the first opening 31 of the first capsule box 30, and the second spacer column 62 can close the second opening 32, which can inhibit the microcapsules 40 in the first capsule box 30 from moving toward the edge position of the flexible display panel 100, thereby improving the display uniformity of the flexible display panel 100.

[0052] In one embodiment, Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, the flexible display panel 100 has a minimum folding angle A1 and a maximum folding angle A2, and the folding angle of the flexible display panel 100 is A.

[0053] Optionally, the flexible display panel 100 also includes a first connection area 52 and a second connection area 53, the first connection area 52 is connected to one side of the foldable area 51, and the second connection area 53 is connected to the side of the foldable area 51 facing away from the first connection area 52, and the angle between the second connection area 53 and the first connection area 52 is A (i.e., the bending angle of the foldable area 51 of the flexible display panel 100).

[0054] When A=A1, the flexible display panel 100 is in a flattened state, and the first opening 31 and the second opening 32 are in an open state. Figure 1 As shown, the flexible display panel 100 is in an unfolded state (i.e., a flattened state). At this time, the flexible display panel 100 is a flat plate as a whole, and the first opening 31 and the second opening 32 are set in an open state, so that the microcapsules 40 in the first capsule box 30 can flow freely between the array substrate 10 and the opposing substrate 20.

[0055] When A is greater than A1 and less than A2, the first spacer 61 and the second spacer 62 are deformed to block the first opening 31 and the second opening 32. When A=A2, that is, when the display panel 100 is bent to the maximum bending angle, the first opening 31 and the second opening 32 are open.

[0056] Optionally, the value of A1 can be 0°, 0.5°, 1°, 1.5°, 2°, etc., and the value of A2 can be 175°, 176°, 177°, 178°, 179°, 180°, etc., without limitation.

[0057] Optionally, the deformation process of the first spacer 61 may overlap at least partially with the bending process of the flexible display panel 100. Specifically, when the foldable area 51 of the flexible display panel 100 begins to bend, A gradually increases from the minimum folding angle A1. In the process of A increasing, the first spacer 61 also slowly deforms and closes the first opening 31. The deformation time of the first spacer 61 may be the same as the bending time of the foldable area 51, or may be less than the bending time of the foldable area 51.

[0058] Alternatively, when A is greater than A1 and less than A2, after the flexible display panel 100 is bent at a certain angle (i.e., when the foldable area 51 of the flexible display panel 100 is bent at a certain angle and maintained), the first spacer 61 is deformed again and closes the first opening 31. Specifically, after the foldable area 51 of the flexible display panel 100 is bent at a certain angle and maintained for a preset time (the preset time may be 0.1s-2s), the first spacer 61 begins to deform and closes the first opening 31, and the deformation time of the first spacer 61 may be 0.1s-1s, and there is no specific limitation. The flexible display panel 100 can be bent at a certain angle and maintain this angle (satisfying 0°<A≤150°), at which time the foldable area 51 of the flexible display panel 100 can still be used for display.

[0059] Similarly, the deformation mode of the second spacer column 62 may refer to the deformation mode of the first spacer column 61 , and is not specifically limited.

[0060] When the flexible display panel 100 is bent in the foldable area 51, the array substrate 10 and the opposing substrate 20 are bent in the foldable area 51 and approach each other, so that the space between the array substrate 10 and the opposing substrate 20 is compressed and reduced, and the microcapsules 40 move to the first connection area 52 and the second connection area 53 on both sides under the pressure. At this time, the first spacer 61 is deformed and closes the first opening 31, and / or the second spacer 62 is deformed and closes the second opening 32, which can inhibit the microcapsules 40 in the foldable area 51 from moving to the first connection area 52 and the second connection area 53 of the flexible display panel 100, thereby ensuring the uniformity of the density of the microcapsules 40 of the flexible display panel 100, thereby improving the display uniformity of the flexible display panel 100, and achieving a good display effect. When the bending angle of the flexible display panel 100 is large, in order to prevent the microcapsules 40 from being squeezed and ruptured, the first spacer column 61 and the second spacer column 62 are both deformed to make the first opening 31 and the second opening 32 in an open state, so that at least part of the microcapsules 40 in the first capsule box 30 can flow out through the first opening 31 and the second opening 32, thereby extending the service life of the flexible display panel 100.

[0061] By setting the bending angle of the foldable area 51 of the flexible display panel 100 to A, when A=0°, the microcapsules 40 in the first capsule box 30 flow freely between the array substrate 10 and the opposing substrate 20, and when 0°<A≤150°, the first spacer 61 is deformed and closes the first opening 31, and / or the second spacer 62 is deformed and closes the second opening 32, which can inhibit the microcapsules 40 in the foldable area 51 from moving toward the first connecting area 52 and the second connecting area 53, thereby ensuring the uniformity of the density of the microcapsules 40 of the flexible display panel 100, thereby improving the display uniformity of the flexible display panel 100, and achieving a good display effect.

[0062] In one embodiment, the flexible display panel 100 further has an intermediate folding angle A3, which satisfies: A1<A3<A2, and A2-A3<A3-A1. When A is greater than A1 and less than or equal to A3, the first spacer 61 and the second spacer 62 are both deformed to make the first opening 31 and the second opening 32 in a blocked state, and when A is greater than A3 and less than or equal to A2, the first spacer 61 and the second spacer 62 are both deformed to make the first opening 31 and the second opening 32 in an open state.

[0063] Optionally, A2-A3<A3-A1, that is, the difference between A3 and A2 is less than the difference between A3 and A1. Exemplarily, A1=0°, A2=180°, A3=150°. When the folding angle A of the flexible display panel 100 is greater than A1 and less than or equal to A3, the first spacer 61 and the second spacer 62 are both deformed to make the first opening 31 and the second opening 32 in a blocked state, and the folded flexible display panel 100 can still be used for display. When A is greater than A3 and less than or equal to A2, the folding angle of the flexible display panel 100 is large, and the space in the first capsule box 30 becomes smaller. In order to prevent the microcapsules 40 from being squeezed and ruptured, the first opening 31 and the second opening 32 are in an open state, so that at least part of the microcapsules 40 in the first capsule box 30 can flow out of the first capsule box 30 through the first opening 31 and the second opening 32.

[0064] When the flexible display panel 100 is unfolded from a folded state (i.e., A gradually decreases from A2 to A1), the lengths of the first spacer 61 and the second spacer 62 remain unchanged, i.e., the first opening 31 and the second opening 32 remain open, and the outflowing microcapsules 40 can flow back into the first capsule box 30 under the action of external pressure, thereby avoiding uneven distribution of the microcapsules 40 in the flexible display panel 100 that is opened after folding, resulting in bright lines or dark lines on the flexible display panel 100, and improving the display uniformity of the flexible display panel 100.

[0065] In one embodiment, Figure 1 As shown, the flexible display panel 100 is further provided with a pressure sensor 70, which is used to detect the pressure applied to the outside by the first capsule box 30 when the flexible display panel 100 is bent. The pressure detected by the pressure sensor 70 is used to control the deformation of the first spacer column 61 and the second spacer column 62.

[0066] The pressure sensor 70 may be a resistive pressure sensor, a capacitive pressure sensor, a piezoelectric pressure sensor, etc., or any other feasible pressure sensor may be used without limitation. The pressure sensor 70 may be disposed inside the first capsule box 30 or outside the first capsule box 30, and the pressure sensor 70 and the first capsule box 30 may be bonded or clamped, etc. without limitation.

[0067] The pressure sensor 70 can be directly connected to the first spacer column 61 and / or the second spacer column 62, and the connection method can be bonding, clamping, etc., without limitation; alternatively, the pressure sensor 70 is electrically connected to the first spacer column 61 and / or the second spacer column 62; alternatively, there is no connection relationship between the pressure sensor 70 and the first spacer column 61 and / or the second spacer column 62, and the first spacer column 61 can be deformed according to the data detected by the pressure sensor 70, without specific limitation.

[0068] Optionally, the number of the pressure sensor 70 may be one, and the deformation of the first spacer column 61 and the second spacer column 62 may be controlled according to the detection data thereof. Alternatively, the number of the pressure sensor 70 may be two, and one pressure sensor 70 may be provided at each of the first opening 31 and the second opening 32, and the first spacer column 61 may be deformed according to the detection data of the pressure sensor 70 at the first opening 31, and the second spacer column 62 may be deformed according to the detection data of the pressure sensor 70 at the second opening 32, which is more accurate.

[0069] When the flexible display panel 100 is bent in the foldable area 51, the space between the array substrate 10 and the opposing substrate 20 becomes smaller, resulting in an increase in the pressure in the first capsule box 30. The pressure sensor 70 is used to detect the change in pressure applied to the outside by the first capsule box 30. The first spacer column 61 and the second spacer column 62 are deformed according to the numerical change of the pressure to inhibit the microcapsule 40 in the foldable area 51 from moving toward the first connection area 52 and the second connection area 53 of the flexible display panel 100. The response is sensitive and the control logic is simple.

[0070] In one embodiment, Figure 1 As shown, the pressure sensor 70 includes a first pressure sensor and a second pressure sensor. The first pressure sensor and the second pressure sensor are both arranged on the array substrate 10. The first pressure sensor is connected to the side of the first capsule box 30 with a first opening 31, and the second pressure sensor is connected to the side of the first capsule box 30 with a second opening 32.

[0071] Optionally, the first pressure sensor is connected and fixed to the array substrate 10 by bonding, clamping, etc., and is in close contact with the side of the first capsule box 30 having the first opening 31, so that the first pressure sensor can detect the pressure change transmitted from the side of the first opening 31 of the first capsule box 30. The first spacer 61 is provided on the first pressure sensor, and deforms according to the pressure value change detected by the first pressure sensor.

[0072] Optionally, the flexible display panel 100 also includes a first control component, which is electrically connected to the first pressure sensor and the first spacer column 61. The pressure data detected by the first pressure sensor is transmitted to the first control component, and the first control component performs corresponding control on the first spacer column 61 according to the pressure data detected by the first pressure sensor, so that the first spacer column 61 is extended or shortened in the first direction X.

[0073] Similar, such as Figure 1 As shown, the configuration of the second pressure sensor may refer to the configuration of the first pressure sensor, and is not specifically limited.

[0074] By setting up a first pressure sensor and a second pressure sensor, the first pressure sensor is connected to the side of the first capsule box 30 with the first opening 31, and the second pressure sensor is connected to the side of the first capsule box 30 with the second opening 32, the pressure changes at different positions can be sensitively sensed more accurately.

[0075] In one embodiment, Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, a first adjustment space 81 is formed between the array substrate 10 and the counter substrate 20. The first adjustment space 81 is located at a side of the first capsule box 30 where the first opening 31 is provided, and the first adjustment space 81 is communicated with the first opening 31. A second adjustment space 82 is formed between the array substrate 10 and the counter substrate 20. The second adjustment space 82 is located at a side of the first capsule box 30 where the second opening 32 is provided, and the second adjustment space 82 is communicated with the second opening 32.

[0076] When A is greater than A3 and less than or equal to A2, the first spacer column 61 and the second spacer column 62 are both deformed to open the first opening 31 and the second opening 32, and at least part of the microcapsules 40 in the first capsule box 30 flow between the first capsule box 30 and the first adjustment space 81 through the first opening 31, and flow between the first capsule box 30 and the second adjustment space 82 through the second opening 32.

[0077] Optionally, when A is greater than A3 and less than or equal to A2, the length of the first spacer column 61 may be the same as the length of the first spacer column 61 when A=A1, or the length of the former may be smaller than the length of the latter, so as to facilitate the microcapsules 40 in the first capsule box 30 to flow out from the first opening 31 and the second opening 32 when the first capsule box 30 is under greater pressure.

[0078] When the bending angle of the foldable area 51 is large, at least part of the microcapsules 40 in the first capsule box 30 can flow between the first capsule box 30 and the first adjustment space 81 through the first opening 31, and can also flow between the first capsule box 30 and the second adjustment space 82 through the second opening 32, so as to avoid the microcapsules 40 being squeezed and broken, and extend the service life of the flexible display panel 100. When the flexible display panel 100 is unfolded from the folded state (i.e., A gradually decreases from A2 to A1), the lengths of the first spacer 61 and the second spacer 62 remain unchanged, and the microcapsules 40 squeezed into the first adjustment space 81 and the second adjustment space 82 can flow back into the first capsule box 30 under the action of external pressure, so as to avoid the uneven distribution of the microcapsules 40 in the flexible display panel 100 after folding, resulting in bright lines or dark lines on the flexible display panel 100, and improve the display uniformity of the flexible display panel 100.

[0079] Optionally, a blocking wall may be arranged between the array substrate 10 and the opposing substrate 20, and the blocking wall, the array substrate 10, the opposing substrate 20 and the side of the first capsule box 30 having the first opening 31 together enclose a first adjustment space 81, and the blocking wall, the array substrate 10, the opposing substrate 20 and the side of the first capsule box 30 having the second opening 32 together enclose a second adjustment space 82 to limit the flow range of the microcapsules 40 in the first capsule box 30.

[0080] In one embodiment, reference Figure 1 and Figure 4 The flexible display panel 100 further includes a second capsule box 91 and a third capsule box 92. The second capsule box 91 and the third capsule box 92 are both disposed between the array substrate 10 and the opposing substrate 20. The second capsule box 91 is spaced apart from the first capsule box 30, and the space therebetween forms a first adjustment space 81. The third capsule box 92 is spaced apart from the first capsule box 30, and the space therebetween forms a second adjustment space 82. The second capsule box 91 and the third capsule box 92 both have a plurality of microcapsules 40.

[0081] Optionally, the first capsule box 30 , the second capsule box 91 and the third capsule box 92 together constitute a display area of ​​the flexible display panel 100 .

[0082] Optionally, the material and thickness of the second capsule box 91 and the third capsule box 92 are similar to those of the first capsule box 30, which can be used as a reference and will not be described in detail. Optionally, the second capsule box 91 is approximately located in the first connection area 52, and the third capsule box 92 is approximately located in the second connection area 53. Since the foldable area 51 of the flexible display panel 100 occupies a relatively small area of ​​the entire flexible display panel 100, the area of ​​the first connection area 52 and the area of ​​the second connection area 53 are larger than the area of ​​the foldable area 51, and the size of the second capsule box 91 and the third capsule box 92 in the second direction Y is larger than the size of the first capsule and in the second direction Y, and the size of the second capsule box 91 and the third capsule box 92 in the second direction Y may be approximately the same.

[0083] Optionally, the second capsule box 91 may be a closed structure, and the second capsule box 91 contains a plurality of microcapsules 40. Alternatively, in one embodiment, Figure 4 As shown, the second capsule box 91 has a third opening 911, the third opening 911 is opposite to the first opening 31, and the first opening 31 and the third opening 911 are both connected to the first adjustment space 81. Such an arrangement can increase the fluidity between the first capsule box 30, the first adjustment space 81 and the second capsule box 91. Alternatively, in one embodiment, the volume of the first adjustment space 81 is very small, and the first adjustment space 81 can be approximately the space between the third opening 911 and the first opening 31 of the second capsule box 91, and the second capsule box 91 is closely arranged with the first spacer 61 away from the side of the first capsule box 30. All of the above arrangements are possible and are not specifically limited.

[0084] Similarly, the third capsule box 92 has a fourth opening 921, which is opposite to the second opening 32, and both the second opening 32 and the fourth opening 921 are connected to the second adjustment space 82. The arrangement of the third capsule box 92 and the second adjustment space 82 is similar to the arrangement of the second capsule box 91 and the first adjustment space 81, which can be referred to and will not be repeated.

[0085] By setting the flexible display panel 100 to also include a second capsule box 91 and a third capsule box 92, the first capsule box 30, the second capsule box 91 and the third capsule box 92 together constitute the display area of ​​the flexible display panel 100, and the second capsule box 91 and the third capsule box 92 both have multiple microcapsules 40, so the display uniformity of the flexible display panel 100 is high and the display effect is good.

[0086] Please refer to Figure 5 The embodiment of the present application further provides an electronic device 1000 , including a housing 200 and a flexible display panel in the embodiment of the present application, wherein the flexible display panel is accommodated in the housing 200 .

[0087] Optionally, the electronic device 1000 can be a mobile phone, a tablet, a computer, an electronic paper, etc., without specific limitation. The electronic device 1000 can be a single-folding electronic device 1000, such as a single-folding mobile phone, a three-folding mobile phone, etc. The electronic device 1000 can be folded horizontally to increase the display area when unfolded, and the electronic device 1000 can also be folded vertically to reduce the volume after folding, without specific limitation.

[0088] Optionally, the housing 200 can be bent or folded synchronously with the flexible display panel. The housing 200 and the flexible display panel can be connected by bonding, snapping, screwing, magnetic connection, etc., without specific limitation. The shape of the flexible display panel can be square, circular, rectangular, trapezoidal, irregular, etc., and the shape of the housing 200 can correspond to the flexible display panel without limitation.

[0089] The electronic device 1000 in the embodiment of the present application adopts the flexible display panel in the embodiment of the present application, and the display uniformity of the flexible display panel is high and the display effect is good.

[0090] In the description of the embodiments of the present application, it should be noted that the orientation or positional relationship of terms such as "center", "up", "down", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "inside" and "outside" are based on the orientation or positional relationship described in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the referred device or element must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as a limitation on the present application.

[0091] What is disclosed above is only a preferred embodiment of the present application, and it certainly cannot be used to limit the scope of rights of the present application. Ordinary technicians in this field can understand that all or part of the processes of implementing the above embodiment and equivalent changes made according to the claims of the present application are still within the scope covered by the present application.

Claims

1. A flexible display panel, characterized in that: include: An array substrate; an opposing substrate, opposite to the array substrate in a first direction; A first capsule box is disposed between the array substrate and the opposing substrate, and the first capsule box has a plurality of microcapsules; The flexible display panel has a foldable area, the array substrate and the opposing substrate are bendable in the foldable area, and the first capsule box is located in the foldable area.

2. The flexible display panel according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first capsule box has a first opening and a second opening opposite to each other in a second direction, and the flexible display panel also includes a first spacer column and a second spacer column, the first spacer column is arranged at the first opening, and the second spacer column is arranged at the second opening, the first spacer column and the second spacer column are both deformable structures, and block the corresponding first opening and the second opening when the flexible display panel is bent at a preset angle, and the second direction intersects with the first direction.

3. The flexible display panel according to claim 2, characterized in that: The flexible display panel has a minimum folding angle A1 and a maximum folding angle A2; the folding angle of the flexible display panel is A, and when A=A1, the flexible display panel is in a flattened state, and the first opening and the second opening are in an open state, and when A is greater than A1 and less than A2, the first spacer column and the second spacer column are both deformed to make the first opening and the second opening in a blocked state, and when A=A2, the first opening and the second opening are in an open state.

4. The flexible display panel according to claim 3, characterized in that: The flexible display panel also has an intermediate folding angle A3, satisfying: A1<A3<A2, and A2-A3<A3-A1; when A is greater than A1 and less than or equal to A3, the first spacer column and the second spacer column are both deformed to make the first opening and the second opening in a blocked state, and when A is greater than A3 and less than or equal to A2, the first spacer column and the second spacer column are both deformed to make the first opening and the second opening in an open state.

5. The flexible display panel according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that: The flexible display panel is further provided with a pressure sensor, which is used to detect the pressure applied to the outside by the first capsule box when the flexible display panel is bent. The pressure detected by the pressure sensor is used to control the deformation of the first spacer column and the second spacer column.

6. The flexible display panel according to claim 5, characterized in that: The pressure sensor includes a first pressure sensor and a second pressure sensor, both of which are arranged on the array substrate, the first pressure sensor is connected to the side of the first capsule box with the first opening, and the second pressure sensor is connected to the side of the first capsule box with the second opening.

7. The flexible display panel according to claim 4, characterized in that: A first adjustment space and a second adjustment space are further formed between the array substrate and the opposing substrate, the first adjustment space being located at a side of the first capsule box where the first opening is provided, the second adjustment space being located at a side of the first capsule box where the second opening is provided, the first adjustment space being communicated with the first opening, and the second adjustment space being communicated with the second opening; When A is greater than A3 and less than or equal to A2, the first spacer column and the second spacer column are both deformed to make the first opening and the second opening in an open state, and at least part of the microcapsules in the first capsule box flow between the first capsule box and the first adjustment space through the first opening, and flow between the first capsule box and the second adjustment space through the second opening.

8. The flexible display panel according to claim 7, characterized in that: The flexible display panel also includes a second capsule box and a third capsule box, the second capsule box and the third capsule box are both arranged between the array substrate and the opposing substrate, the second capsule box and the first capsule box are spaced apart, and the space between the two forms the first adjustment space, the third capsule box and the first capsule box are spaced apart, and the space between the two forms the second adjustment space, and the second capsule box and the third capsule box both have a plurality of microcapsules.

9. The flexible display panel according to claim 8, characterized in that: The second capsule box has a third opening, which is opposite to the first opening, and the first adjustment space is connected to the first opening and the third opening; the third capsule box has a fourth opening, which is opposite to the second opening, and the second adjustment space is connected to the second opening and the fourth opening.

10. An electronic device, characterized in that: The invention comprises a housing and the flexible display panel according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the flexible display panel is accommodated in the housing.

Images