Display panel, display module and electronic equipment

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of display, and discloses a display panel, a display module and electronic equipment. The display panel comprises a display area, a first non-display area and a bending area, when the display panel is in a flattened state, the display area, the first non-display area and the bending area are sequentially connected in the first direction. A first groove is formed in the junction of the bending area and the first non-display area. According to the display device, the first groove is formed in the junction of the first non-display area and the bending area, the modulus of the first groove is smaller than that of other non-grooved positions, so that the bending area starts to be bent from the first groove more easily, the first groove can limit the bending starting point of the bending area, and the bending accuracy of the first non-display area is improved. The ideal bending starting point and the actual bending starting point are eliminated to coincide, the deviation between the ideal bending starting point and the actual bending starting point is eliminated, and then narrowing of the lower frame is achieved.

Description

Technical Field

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

[0002] At present, in order to pursue a higher screen-to-body ratio, the border of an electronic device needs to be set as narrow as possible. It can be understood that one function of the border is to block the non-display part of the display screen. Therefore, in order to achieve a narrow border of an electronic device, the non-display part of the display screen needs to be as small as possible.

[0003] However, in the prior art, due to the influence of manufacturing process and the like, the size of the non-display portion of the display screen is still relatively large. Summary of the invention

[0004] The embodiments of the present application provide a display panel, a display module and an electronic device, which can achieve a narrowed frame of the electronic device.

[0005] In the first aspect, the present application provides a display panel, comprising a display area, a bending area and a non-display area, the non-display area comprising a first non-display area and a second non-display area; the display area, the first non-display area, the bending area and the second non-display area are sequentially connected along the length direction of the display panel; when the display panel is assembled, the bending area is bent, and the first non-display area and the second non-display area are relatively arranged along the thickness direction of the display panel; wherein, at least one groove is provided at the junction of the bending area and the non-display area.

[0006] In the embodiment of the present application, the display panel is provided with a groove at the junction of the non-display area and the bending area. Compared with other ungrooved areas, the modulus of the groove is smaller, so that the bending area is easier to start / end bending from the groove. In this way, the groove can limit the actual bending starting point / ending point of the bending zone, so that the actual bending starting point / ending point coincides with the ideal bending starting point / ending point, eliminating the deviation between the ideal actual bending starting point / ending point and the ideal bending starting point / ending point, thereby achieving the narrowing of the border of the electronic device.

[0007] In some embodiments, the junction includes a first junction between the first non-display area and the bending area, and a second junction between the second non-display area and the bending area; at least one groove includes a first groove, and the first groove is arranged on one of the first junction and the second junction.

[0008] In some embodiments, the at least one groove further includes a second groove, and the second groove is disposed on the other of the first junction and the second junction.

[0009] In some embodiments, when the display panel is in an assembled state, a distance between the first non-display area and the second non-display area is 2R, where R is a bending radius of the bending area.

[0010] In the embodiment of the present application, the spacing between the first non-display area and the second non-display area along the second direction is 2R, so that the bending shape of the bending zone can be an ideal semicircular surface, and the radius of the semicircular surface is R, so that the stress in the bending zone is relatively balanced, avoiding stress concentration at individual irregular points and reducing the risk of breakage of metal signal lines in the bending zone.

[0011] In some embodiments, the distance between the first groove and the second groove along the length direction is πR, where R is the bending radius of the bending zone.

[0012] In the embodiment of the present application, since the first groove can make the actual bending starting point consistent with the ideal bending starting point, and the second groove can make the actual bending ending point consistent with the ideal bending ending point, by further setting the interval between the first groove and the second groove to πR, the bending shape of the bending zone can be an ideal semicircular surface, so as to reduce the stress concentration in the bending zone.

[0013] In some embodiments, the center plane of the groove in the length direction coincides with the interface where the groove is located. This arrangement can effectively ensure that the actual bending start point / end point of the bending zone is located at the interface between the bending zone and the non-display area.

[0014] In some embodiments, when the display panel is in an assembled state, the opening of the groove faces the back side of the display panel.

[0015] In some embodiments, along the width direction of the display panel, the groove extends from one end of the display panel to the other end. This arrangement can further ensure that the actual bending start point / end point coincides with the ideal bending start point / end point.

[0016] In some embodiments, the display panel includes a base layer, and the groove is disposed on the base layer; wherein the groove depth of the groove is 0.2 to 1.5 times the thickness of the base layer.

[0017] In some embodiments, the opening width of the groove along the first direction is 5 μm to 15 μm.

[0018] In a second aspect, the present application provides a display module, including a support member and a display panel provided by any embodiment of the first aspect of the present application, wherein the display panel is in an assembled state; and the support member is disposed between a first non-display area and a second non-display area. The technical effect of the second aspect of the present application may be the technical effect of any embodiment of the first aspect of the present application, and will not be described in detail. In addition, by providing a support member, the display panel can be supported to prevent the display panel from being damaged by external collision.

[0019] In some embodiments, a distance between the first non-display area and the second non-display area is 2R, and a thickness of the support member is 2R.

[0020] In some embodiments, the support member includes a heat dissipation layer and / or a padding block. The heat dissipation layer can dissipate heat for metal signal lines in the first non-display area and the second non-display area, and can also shield signals between the first non-display area and the second non-display area to avoid signal crosstalk. The padding block is mainly used to make up for the distance between the first non-display area and the second non-display area along the second direction, so as to achieve a distance of 2R between the first non-display area and the second non-display area.

[0021] In a third aspect, the present application provides an electronic device, comprising a housing and a display module provided by any embodiment of the second aspect of the present application, wherein the display module is disposed on the housing. The technical effect of the third aspect of the present application may be the technical effect of any embodiment of the second aspect of the present application, and will not be described in detail. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] Figure 1A A schematic diagram of an electronic device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0023] Figure 1B A cross-sectional view of an electronic device provided in an embodiment of the present application (AA cross-sectional view of FIG. 1 );

[0024] Figure 2A Schematic diagram 1 of a reference direction of a display panel provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0025] Figure 2B A second schematic diagram of a reference direction of a display panel provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0026] Figure 2C Schematic diagram 3 of the reference direction of the display panel provided in the embodiment of the present application;

[0027] Figure 2D Schematic diagram 4 of the reference direction of the display panel provided in the embodiment of the present application;

[0028] Figure 3A is a front view (flattened state) of a display panel in some embodiments;

[0029] Figure 3B 1 is a side view and partial detail view (flattened state) of a display panel in some embodiments;

[0030] Figure 3C is a front view of a display panel (assembled state) in some embodiments;

[0031] Figure 3D 1. is a side view and partial detail view of a display panel (assembled state) in some embodiments;

[0032] Figure 4AIt is a side view and a partial detail view (flattened state) of a display panel provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0033] Figure 4B It is a side view and a partial detail view (assembled state) of a display panel provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0034] Figure 4C is a front view (flattened state) of the display panel in the embodiment of the present application;

[0035] Figure 4D is a front view of the display panel in the embodiment of the present application (in assembled state);

[0036] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the layer structure of a display panel provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0037] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of the structure of a flexible base layer provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0038] Fig. 7A is a side view and a partial detail view (flattened state) of a display panel provided by another embodiment of the present application;

[0039] Figure 7B is a side view and a partial detail view (assembled state) of a display panel provided by another embodiment of the present application;

[0040] Fig. 8A is a side view and a partial detail view (in a flattened state) of a display panel provided by another embodiment of the present application;

[0041] Figure 8B is a side view and a partial detail view (assembled state) of a display panel provided by another embodiment of the present application;

[0042] Figure 8C is a front view (flattened state) of a display panel in another embodiment of the present application;

[0043] Fig.8D is a front view of a display panel in another embodiment of the present application (in assembled state);

[0044] Fig. 8E A schematic structural diagram of a flexible base layer provided in yet another embodiment of the present application;

[0045] Fig. 9 It is a structural schematic diagram of a display module provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0046] The specific implementation of the present application is described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0047] Figure 1A and Figure 1B An exemplary structural diagram of an electronic device provided in an embodiment of the present application is shown. Figure 1A A three-dimensional diagram of an electronic device. Figure 1B A cross-sectional view of an electronic device.

[0048] In the figures of this document, the X direction is the length direction of the electronic device, the Y direction is the width direction of the electronic device, and the Z direction is the thickness direction of the electronic device. The X direction, the Y direction, and the Z direction may be perpendicular to each other.

[0049] In addition, generally, the side of the electronic device facing the user when in use is called the front side of the electronic device, and the side of the electronic device facing away from the user when in use is called the back side of the electronic device.

[0050] In this embodiment, a mobile phone is used as an example of the electronic device 10. In other embodiments, the electronic device 10 may be a laptop computer, a tablet, a large-screen device, a vehicle-mounted device, a wearable device (e.g., a watch, smart glasses, a helmet), an augmented reality (AR) / virtual reality (VR) device, a personal digital assistant (PDA), etc., which is not limited in this application.

[0051] like Figure 1A and Figure 1B As shown, the electronic device 10 provided in the embodiment of the present application includes a housing 101 and a display module 102, and the display module 102 is arranged on the housing 101. The housing 101 and the display module 102 are packaged to form the appearance of the electronic device 10. In some embodiments, the material of the housing 101 includes but is not limited to metal, glass and plastic.

[0052] The front of the housing 101 includes a frame 1011, and the frame surrounds an opening 1012 of the housing. The display module 102 includes a display panel 201 and a support member 202. The opening 1012 can expose a portion of the display panel 201 so that a user can observe the image displayed in the portion. Therefore, the area of ​​the display panel 201 exposed by the opening 1012 can be referred to as the display area 201a of the display panel 201.

[0053] In addition, the display panel 201 also includes an area that is not blocked by the frame, for example, an end area 201A of the display panel 201. Referring to FIG. 2 , when the display panel 201 is assembled into the electronic device 10 (i.e., when the display panel 201 is in an assembled state), the end area 201A is in a bent state to reduce the size of the end area 201A along the X direction, thereby reducing the width W of the lower frame to increase the screen-to-body ratio of the electronic device 10.

[0054] 2, the display module 102 may further include a support member 202. One end of the support member 202 is located in the space formed by the bending of the end region 201A, and is used to support the end region 201A. For the sake of narrative coherence, the specific structure of the support member 202 will be introduced later.

[0055] The display panel 201 of the embodiment of the present application can be a flexible display component such as a flexible organic light-emitting diode (OLED). The following is an introduction to the display panel 201 using OLED as an example, but the present application is not limited thereto. OLED is a technology that uses a diode to cause an organic light-emitting material to emit light by electro-induced transition. Flexible OLEDs are usually formed by forming a diode and an organic light-emitting layer on a flexible substrate (such as PI). Due to the softness of PI, it can be bent.

[0056] The following combination FIG. 2A to FIG. 2D The reference direction of the display panel 201 provided in the embodiment of the present application is introduced. Figure 2A is a front view of the display panel 201 in a flattened state, Figure 2B is a side view of the display panel 201 in a flattened state, Figure 2C is a front view showing the panel 201 in an assembled state, Figure 2D It is a side view of the display panel 201 in an assembled state.

[0057] refer to FIG. 2A to FIG. 2D The display panel 201 includes a length direction, a width direction and a thickness direction. The thickness direction is the thickness direction of the display panel 201. Figure 2A and Figure 2B When the display panel 201 is in a flattened state, the extended surface of the display panel 201 is a plane, and the thickness direction of the display panel 201 may be perpendicular to the extended surface of the display panel 201. Figure 2C and Figure 2D When the display panel 201 is in an assembled state, the extended surface of the display panel 201 is a curved surface, and the thickness direction of the display panel 201 may be the thickness direction of the flattened portion of the display panel 201 (eg, the display area 201a).

[0058] The length direction and width direction of the display panel 201 are respectively parallel to the extension surface of the display panel 201. Figure 2A and Figure 2B When the display panel 201 is in a flattened state, the length direction and the width direction of the display panel 201 may extend along straight lines respectively, and the length direction and the width direction of the display panel 201 may be orthogonal to each other. Figure 2C and Figure 2DWhen the display panel 201 is in the assembled state, the length direction and width direction of the flattened portion (e.g., the display area 201a) of the display panel 201 are consistent with those in the flattened state, but the length direction or width direction of the bent portion (e.g., the end region 201A) may be bent accordingly with the bent shape of the bent portion. For example, the length direction of the bent portion (e.g., the end region 201A) of the display panel 201 extends along the bending curve of the bent portion.

[0059] In addition, the embodiment of the present application does not limit the dimensions of the display panel 201 in the length direction and the width direction, that is, the dimension of the display panel 201 in the length direction may be greater than the dimension of the display panel 201 in the width direction, or may be less than or equal to the dimension of the display panel 201 in the width direction.

[0060] In addition, refer to Figure 2A The display panel 201 includes two surfaces disposed opposite to each other along its thickness direction, one of which is used to display images, and is referred to herein as the "front side" of the display panel 201; the other is referred to as the "back side" of the display panel 201. Generally, when the display panel 201 is mounted on an electronic device, at least part of the front side can be observed by a user, while the back side is hidden inside the electronic device and is not visible to the user.

[0061] In addition, for ease of understanding, herein, when the display panel 201 is in an assembled state, the length direction of the flattened portion of the display panel 201 (e.g., the display area 201a) is parallel to the length direction of the electronic device 10, the width direction of the display panel 201 is parallel to the width direction of the electronic device 10 (i.e., the Y direction), and the thickness direction of the display panel 201 is parallel to the thickness direction of the electronic device 10 (i.e., the Z direction). However, it is understood that the present application is not limited thereto.

[0062] In order to narrow the frame of the electronic device, the end region of the display panel may be bent. For ease of understanding and description, some comparison diagrams of the end region 201A' of the display panel 201' before and after bending are provided below. Figure 3A is a front view of the display panel 201' before being bent. Figure 3B The side view and partial detail view of the display panel 201' before bending ( Figure 3A and Figure 3B Corresponding to the flattened state of the display panel 201). Figure 4A is a front view of the display panel 201' after being bent. Figure 4B The side view and partial detail view of the display panel 201' after bending ( Figure 4A and Figure 4B Corresponding to the assembled state of the display panel 201).

[0063] like Figure 3A and Figure 3B As shown, the display panel 201' is in a flattened state, and the display panel 201' includes a Figure 3A and 3B The display area 201a', the first non-display area 201b', the bending area 201c' and the non-display area 201d' are sequentially connected (in the X direction shown). The display area 201a' is used to display a picture. For example, the display area 201a' includes a plurality of display pixels arranged in an array. By controlling the display state (e.g., color, brightness, etc.) of each display pixel, a specific picture can be displayed in the display area 201a'.

[0064] The first non-display area 201b', the bending area 201c' and the non-display area 201d' together form the end area 201A' of the display panel. The first non-display area 201b' and the second non-display area 201d' can be used to place metal traces and be packaged with the housing 101'. When the display panel 201' is in a flattened state, the bending area 201c' can be unfolded into a plane, and the first non-display area 201b' and the second non-display area 201d' are respectively located on both sides of the bending area 201c'.

[0065] like Figure 3C and Figure 3D As shown, when the display panel 201' is in the assembled state, the bending area 201c' is bent so that the first non-display area 201b' and the second non-display area 201d' are aligned along the thickness direction ( Figure 3C and Figure 3D For example, when the bending area 201c' is bent, the second non-display area 201d' is located on the back of the display area 201a'. The bending area 201c' can be bent by a pad bending process.

[0066] When the bending zone 201c' is bent, the front of the display panel 201' includes the display zone 201a', the first non-display zone 201b' and a portion of the bending zone 201c'. Wherein, s1 represents the boundary between the first non-display zone 201b' and the bending zone 201c', s2 represents the actual bending starting point of the bending zone 201c', s3 represents the actual bending ending point of the bending zone 201c' (that is, the portion between s2 and s3 is the actual bent portion of the bending zone 201c'), and s4 represents the boundary between the bending zone 201c' and the second non-display zone 201d'. In addition, along the x direction, the size of the first non-display zone 201b' is x1, and the size of the bending zone 201c' is x2+x3, wherein x2 is the size of the unbent portion of the bending zone, and x3 is the size of the actual bent portion of the bending zone.

[0067] It can be understood that in order to shield the portion of the display panel 201' except the display area 201a', the width W of the lower frame of the housing 101' needs to be greater than or equal to the sum D1' of the dimensions of the first non-display area 201b' and the bending area 201c' (ie, the value of x1+x2+x3).

[0068] Among them, for x1, since the first non-display area 201b' needs to place metal wiring and the like, its size x1 generally cannot be compressed any further. In addition, for x3, when reducing x3, it is necessary to consider the material and thickness of the bending area 201c'. This is because the smaller x3 is, the greater the stress in the bending area 201c' is, and the bending area 201c' will break when the stress threshold is exceeded, and the stress threshold is related to the material (for example, the material of the metal wire) and thickness in the bending area 201c'. In some embodiments, the limit value of the reduction of x3 is 0.25mm.

[0069] Therefore, in order to reduce the size of D1', it is hoped that the value of x2 can be reduced as much as possible until the value of x2 is reduced to 0. In other words, it is hoped that the actual bending starting point of the bending zone 201c' can be located at the junction of the first non-display area 201b' and the bending zone 201c' (i.e., s1). Hereinafter, the junction s1 between the first non-display area 201b' and the bending zone 201c' is referred to as the ideal bending starting point of the bending zone 201c'.

[0070] However, due to the limitation of the bending process (eg, pad bending process), the actual bending starting point of the bending zone 201c' is difficult to coincide with the ideal bending starting point, that is, there is a distance x2 between the actual bending starting point and the ideal bending starting point.

[0071] Similarly, in order to reduce the size of D1', it is also hoped to reduce the value of x4 as much as possible until the value of x4 is reduced to 0. That is, it is hoped that the actual bending end point of the bending zone 201c' can be located at the junction of the second non-display area 201d' and the bending zone 201c' (i.e., s4). Hereinafter, the junction s4 between the second non-display area 201d' and the bending zone 201c' is referred to as the ideal bending end point of the bending zone 201c'. Similarly, due to the limitations of the bending process, the actual bending end point of the bending zone 201c' is difficult to coincide with the ideal bending end point, that is, there will be a distance x4 between the actual bending end point and the ideal bending end point.

[0072] In addition, due to the existence of x2 and / or x4, the bending shape of the bending area 201c' is not an ideal semicircle, that is, the arc between s1 and s4 is not a regular arc, which will cause stress concentration at irregular points, causing the metal signal line in the bending area 201c' to break, and then cause display abnormalities.

[0073] Based on this, the embodiment of the present application provides a display panel, wherein a groove is provided at the junction of the first non-display area and the bending area, so that the actual bending starting point of the bending area can coincide with the ideal bending starting point, thereby reducing or eliminating the spacing x2; and / or, a groove is provided at the junction of the second non-display area and the bending area, so that the actual bending end point of the bending area can coincide with the ideal bending end point, thereby reducing or eliminating the spacing x4. It can be understood that on the basis of reducing or eliminating the spacing x2 and / or the spacing x4, the embodiment of the present application can reduce the frame size of the electronic device.

[0074] In the following embodiments, the end region 201A is set at the bottom of the electronic device 10 as an example for explanation. When the size D1 of the end region 201A is reduced, the size W of the lower frame of the electronic device can be reduced. It can be understood that in other embodiments, the end region 201A can also be set at other positions of the electronic device 10, for example, the top, left side, right side, etc. of the electronic device 10. When the end region 201A is set at other positions, the size of other frames of the electronic device 10 can be reduced. For example, when the end region 201 is set at the top of the electronic device 10, when the size of the end region 201A is reduced, the size of the upper frame of the electronic device 10 can be reduced.

[0075] The specific embodiments of the present application are introduced below.

[0076] Combine the following 4A to 4D A specific embodiment of a display panel 201 provided in an embodiment of the present application is introduced. Figure 4A It is a side view and a partial detail view of the display panel 201 before being bent. Figure 4B It is a side view and a partial detail view of the display panel 201 after being bent. Figure 4C shows a front view of the display panel 201 before being bent, Figure 4D It is a front view of the display panel 201 after being bent.

[0077] In the embodiment of the present application, the display panel 201 sets a first groove at the junction of the first non-display area and the bending area, so that the bending area is easier to bend from the first groove, so that the ideal bending starting point coincides with the actual bending starting point, thereby achieving the purpose of eliminating x2 and further realizing the narrowing of the border of the electronic device.

[0078] like Figure 4AAs shown, the display panel 201 is in a flattened state before being bent, and the display panel 201 includes a display area 201a, a first non-display area 201b, a bending area 201c, and a second non-display area 201d connected in sequence along the X direction. Among them, a first groove 2016 is provided at the junction of the bending area 201c and the first non-display area 201b. Here, the functions of each area of ​​the display panel 201 can refer to the functions of the corresponding areas in the display panel 201' above, and will not be repeated here.

[0079] like Figure 4B As shown, the display panel 201 is in an assembled state, the bending area 201c is bent to the back of the display panel 201, and the first non-display area 201b and the second non-display area 201d are arranged along the thickness direction of the display panel 201 ( Figure 4B The back surfaces of the first non-display area 201b and the second non-display area 201d are arranged opposite to each other (in the Z direction as shown), which can also be understood as the back surface of the first non-display area 201b and the back surface of the second non-display area 201d are opposite to each other.

[0080] In this embodiment, reference Figure 4A and Figure 4B , the display panel 201 sets a first groove 2016 at the junction s1 (i.e., the ideal bending starting point) between the first non-display area 201b and the bending area 201c, so that the modulus of the junction s1 becomes lower, so that the actual bending starting point of the bending area 201c is more likely to start from the junction s1 between the first non-display area 201b and the bending area 201c, so that the ideal bending starting point coincides with the actual bending starting point. In this way, the width W of the lower frame can be determined only by x1 and x3 (for example, the width of the lower frame only needs to be greater than the sum of x1 and x3), thereby eliminating x2 and narrowing the lower frame.

[0081] In some embodiments, Figure 4A and Figure 4B As shown, the opening of the first groove 2016 faces the back side of the display panel 201. In other embodiments, the opening of the first groove 2016 may also face the front side of the display panel 201. The opening of the first groove 2016 faces the back side of the display panel 201, which is consistent with the bending direction of the bending area 201c, which helps to reduce the stress at the bottom of the first groove 2016 and facilitates bending.

[0082] In some embodiments, Figure 4A As shown, the first groove 2016 is in the length direction of the display panel 201 ( Figure 4AThe center plane of the first groove 2016 in the X direction (shown in the X direction) coincides with the interface between the bending area 201c and the first non-display area 201b. Since the first groove 2016 occupies both the first non-display area 201b and the bending area 201c, the center plane of the first groove 2016 in the X direction coincides with the interface between the bending area 201c and the first non-display area 201b, which can effectively ensure that the bending starts from the boundary between the bending area 201c and the first non-display area 201b, so that the ideal bending starting point coincides with the actual bending starting point.

[0083] In some embodiments, reference Figure 4A The first groove 2016 is along the length direction of the display panel 201 ( Figure 4A The opening width of the first groove 2016 (in the X direction as shown) is 5 μm to 15 μm. In the actual process of preparing the display panel 201, the first groove 2016 can be formed by any process of exposure, display, etching or laser. For example, in the etching process, the interface between the bending area 201c and the first non-display area 201b mentioned in the above embodiment can be used as the center for etching, and the opening width of the first groove 2016 can be made as small as possible to reduce the influence on the routing of the metal signal line in the bending area 201b and the first non-display area 201b.

[0084] In some embodiments, Figure 4C and Figure 4D As shown, along the width direction of the display panel 201 ( Figure 4C and Figure 4D In the Y direction shown in FIG. 1 , the first groove 2016 extends from one end of the display panel 201 to the other end, that is, the first groove 2016 penetrates the display panel 201 in the width direction of the display panel 201. In this way, the entire bending area 201c can be bent from the junction between it and the first non-display area 201b, ensuring that the entire bending area 201c achieves x2 of 0 in the Y direction, thereby improving the flatness of the bending area 201c.

[0085] It is understandable that the display panel 201 may be composed of multiple layers. Figure 5 The display panel 201 includes a flexible base layer 2011, a thin film transistor (TFT) control circuit layer 2012, a light emitting layer 2013, a packaging layer 2014 and a touch layer 2015 which are arranged in sequence from the back side to the front side.

[0086] The flexible base layer 2011 can be made of flexible materials such as polyimide (PI) and polyetherimide (PEI). The display area 201a, the first non-display area 201b, the bending area 201c and the non-display area 201d share a flexible base layer 2011. The TFT control circuit layer 2012 is arranged in a matrix form to drive each light-emitting unit in the light-emitting layer 2013. The encapsulation layer 2014 is used to block water and oxygen to prevent the display panel from failing and aging due to water and oxygen invasion. The touch layer 2015 is used to receive input signals such as contacts to replace the mechanical button panel.

[0087] In some embodiments, the layer above the flexible base layer 2011 (for example, the TFT control circuit layer 2012, the light-emitting layer 2013, etc.) includes an inorganic film layer to provide isolation and insulation between components. For the display panel 201 in the bending area 201c, the inorganic film layer above the flexible base layer can be dug out and then filled with an organic film layer. Among them, the organic film layer refers to a nitrogen silicon layer or an oxygen silicon layer. The material of the organic film layer includes but is not limited to an organic photoresist. Thus, the bending area 201c can also be understood as an area filled with an organic film layer. Since the organic film layer has a strong bending resistance and is conducive to bending, the bending stress of the bending area 201c can be relieved to prevent the bending area 201c from breaking.

[0088] It should be noted that Figure 5 is an exemplary structure of the display panel 201. In other embodiments, the display panel 201 may include more or fewer layers. For example, the display panel 201 may not include the touch layer 2015.

[0089] In some embodiments, reference Figure 6 The display panel 201 includes a base layer 201m located on the back thereof, and the base layer 201m may be the entire or partial structure of the flexible base layer 2011. It is understandable that the flexible base layer 2011 may be a multi-layer structure, such as Figure 6 As shown, the flexible base layer 2011 may include a bottom layer 20111, a middle layer 20112 and a top layer 20113 from bottom to top, and the base layer 201m may be the bottom layer 20111 in the flexible base layer 2011. It should be noted that Figure 6 is an exemplary structure of the flexible base layer 2011. In other embodiments, the flexible base layer 2011 may include more or fewer layers. For example, the flexible base layer 2011 may not include the intermediate layer 20112, or may include multiple intermediate layers 20112, etc.

[0090] The first groove 2016 can be provided on the base layer 201m. The first groove 2016 can be formed on the base layer 201m by etching the base layer 201m. The groove depth of the first groove 2016 can be less than the thickness of the base layer 201m, or greater than the thickness of the base layer 201m, that is, it runs through the entire base layer 201m. When it is less than the thickness of the base layer 201m, it can ensure that the upper control circuit layer is not exposed, and the control circuit layer is prevented from being attacked by water and oxygen. When the flexible base layer in the display panel 201 is a multi-layer structure, and the base layer 201m is the bottom layer 20111 in the multi-layer structure, even if the groove depth of the first groove 2016 runs through the base layer 201m, that is, the bottom layer 20111, due to the presence of the intermediate layer 20112 and the top layer 20113, the control circuit layer can be prevented from being attacked by water and oxygen. Specifically, the groove depth of the first groove 2016 can be 0.2 to 1.5 times the thickness of the base layer 201m.

[0091] Combine the following Fig. 7A and Figure 7B A specific embodiment of a display panel 201 provided in another embodiment of the present application is introduced. FIG. 4A to FIG. 6 What is different from the illustrated embodiment is that in this embodiment, a second groove is provided at the junction of the second non-display area and the bending zone, so that the bending zone can more easily end bending at the second groove, so that the ideal bending end point coincides with the actual bending end point, thereby reducing or eliminating the spacing x4.

[0092] refer to Fig. 7A and Figure 7B The display panel 201 sets a second groove 2017 at the junction s4 (i.e., the ideal bending end point) between the second non-display area 201d and the bending area 201c, so that the modulus at the junction s4 becomes lower, so that the actual bending end point of the bending area 201c is more likely to end at the junction s4 between the first non-display area 201b and the bending area 201c, so that the ideal bending end point coincides with the actual bending end point. Thus, the purpose of reducing or eliminating the interval x4 is achieved, and the frame of the electronic device 10 is narrowed.

[0093] Other details of the second concave 2017 FIG. 4A to FIG. 6 The configuration details of the first groove 2016 in the illustrated embodiment are substantially the same. For example, the opening of the second groove 2017 may be toward the back of the display panel 201. The second groove 2017 is disposed in the length direction of the display panel 201 ( Fig. 7A The center plane in the X direction as shown in FIG. 2 coincides with the interface between the bending area 201c and the second non-display area 201d. The second groove 2017 can be provided on the base layer 201m, etc., which will not be described one by one. For details, please refer to the above description of FIG. 4A to FIG. 6 's narrative.

[0094] Combine the following FIG. 8A to FIG. 8D A specific embodiment of a display panel 201 provided in another embodiment of the present application is introduced. Fig. 8A It is a side view and a partial detail view of the display panel 201 before being bent. Figure 8B It is a side view and a partial detail view of the display panel 201 after being bent. Figure 8C shows a front view of the display panel 201 before being bent, Fig.8D It is a front view of the display panel 201 after being bent.

[0095] In this embodiment, the display panel 201 sets a first groove at the junction of the first non-display area and the bending area, so that the bending area is easier to bend from the first groove, and the ideal bending starting point coincides with the actual bending starting point, thereby achieving the purpose of eliminating x2; and sets a second groove at the junction of the second non-display area and the bending area, so that the bending area is easier to end bending at the second groove, so that the ideal bending ending point coincides with the actual bending ending point, thereby achieving the purpose of eliminating x4. In this way, the narrowing of the lower frame can be better achieved, and at the same time it is helpful to realize the bending shape of the bending area as an ideal semicircle, thereby reducing the risk of breakage of the bending area.

[0096] like Fig. 8A As shown, the display panel 201 is in a flattened state before being bent, and the display panel 201 includes a display area 201a, a first non-display area 201b, a bending area 201c, and a second non-display area 201d connected in sequence along the X direction. A first groove 2016 is provided at the junction of the bending area 201c and the first non-display area 201b. A second groove 2017 is provided at the junction of the bending area 201c and the second non-display area 201d. Here, the functions of each area of ​​the display panel 201 can refer to the functions of the corresponding areas in the display panel 201' above, and will not be repeated here.

[0097] like Figure 8B As shown, the display panel 201 is in an assembled state, the bending area 201c is bent to the back of the display panel 201, and the first non-display area 201b and the second non-display area 201d are in the thickness direction of the display panel 201 ( Figure 8B The back surfaces of the first non-display area 201b and the second non-display area 201d are arranged opposite to each other (in the Z direction as shown), which can also be understood as the back surface of the first non-display area 201b and the back surface of the second non-display area 201d are opposite to each other.

[0098] In this embodiment, the display panel 201 sets a first groove 2016 at the junction s1 (i.e., the ideal bending starting point) between the first non-display area 201b and the bending area 201c, and sets a second groove 2017 at the junction s4 (i.e., the ideal bending ending point) between the second non-display area 201d and the bending area 201c, so that the bending area 201c is easier to bend from the junction s1 and end the bending at the junction s4, so that the ideal bending starting point coincides with the actual bending starting point, and the ideal bending ending point coincides with the actual bending ending point. Thus, the width W of the lower frame is only determined by x1 and x3 (for example, the width W of the lower frame only needs to be greater than x1 and x3) to achieve the purpose of eliminating x2 and x4. In this way, the narrowing of the lower frame can be better achieved, and at the same time, it is helpful to achieve the bending shape of the bending area 201c as an ideal semicircle, reducing the risk of fracture of the bending area.

[0099] In some embodiments, Figure 8B As shown, when the display panel 201 is assembled, the first non-display area 201b and the second non-display area 201d are arranged opposite to each other along the Z direction, and the spacing between the first non-display area 201b and the second non-display area 201d along the Z direction is 2R, that is, the spacing between the first groove 2016 and the second groove 2017 along the Z direction is 2R. R is the minimum bending radius of the bending zone determined based on the material and thickness of the bending zone, that is, the minimum value of x3 mentioned above. And, as Fig. 8A As shown, when the display panel 201 is in a flattened state, the spacing between the first groove 2016 and the second groove 2017 along the X direction is πR (π is pi). Since the first groove 2016 and the second groove 2017 can respectively define the bending starting point and the bending ending point to be consistent with the ideal, thus, by defining the spacing between the first groove 2016 and the second groove 2017 along the X direction as πR, and defining the spacing between the first groove 2016 and the second groove 2017 along the Z direction as 2R, the bending shape of the bending area 201c can be an ideal semicircular surface. It can be understood that the radius of the semicircular surface is R. In this way, the stress of the bending area 201c is relatively balanced, avoiding the phenomenon of stress concentration at individual irregular points, and reducing the risk of breaking the metal signal line in the bending area 201c.

[0100] In some embodiments, Fig. 8A As shown, when the display panel 201 is flattened, the openings of the first groove 2016 and the second groove 2017 face the back side of the display panel 201. Figure 8B As shown, when the display panel 201 is assembled, the openings of the first groove 2016 and the second groove 2017 are arranged in opposite directions. In other embodiments, the opening of the first groove 2016 or the second groove 2017 may also face the front of the display panel 201.

[0101] In some embodiments, Figure 8C As shown, the first groove 2016 is in the length direction of the display panel 201 ( Fig. 8A The center plane of the second groove 2017 in the X direction coincides with the interface between the bending zone 201c and the first non-display zone 201b. In this way, it can be effectively ensured that the bending starts from the interface between the bending zone 201c and the first non-display zone 201b, so that the ideal bending starting point coincides with the actual bending starting point. And / or, the center plane of the second groove 2017 in the X direction coincides with the interface between the bending zone 201c and the second non-display zone 201d. In this way, it can be effectively ensured that the bending ends at the interface between the bending zone 201c and the second non-display zone 201d, so that the ideal bending end point coincides with the actual bending end point.

[0102] In some embodiments, the first groove 2016 is arranged along the length direction of the display panel 201 ( Fig. 8A The opening width of the second groove 2017 along the length direction (X direction) of the display panel 201 is 5 μm to 15 μm. Fig. 8A The opening width in the X direction (shown) is 5 μm to 15 μm. In the actual process of preparing the display panel 201, the first groove 2016 and the second groove 2017 can be formed by any process of exposure, display, etching or laser.

[0103] In some embodiments, Figure 8C and Fig.8D As shown, along the width direction of the display panel 201 ( Figure 8C and Fig.8D In the Y direction shown in FIG. 2 , the first groove 2016 extends from one end of the display panel 201 to the other end, and / or the second groove 2017 extends from one end of the display panel 201 to the other end.

[0104] In addition, refer to Fig. 8E The first groove 2016 and the second groove 2017 can be provided on the base layer 201m (the structure of the base layer 201m can refer to the above Figure 6 Specifically, the groove depth of the first groove 2016 and / or the groove depth of the second groove 2017 may be 0.2 to 1.5 times the thickness of the base layer 201m.

[0105] It can be understood that the display panel 201 provided in the embodiment of the present application can enable the electronic device 10 to achieve a large screen-to-body ratio and a narrow bezel, while achieving an ideal semicircle shape of the bending area of ​​the display panel, thereby reducing the risk of breakage of the bending area.

[0106] The following describes an exemplary structure of the support member 202 of the display panel 201 provided in this embodiment. Fig. 9In conjunction with FIG. 2 , the display panel 201 is in an assembled state in the display module 102, and the support member 202 in the display module 102 is disposed between the first non-display area 201b and the second non-display area 201d, and is used to support the first non-display area 201b and the second non-display area 201d along the Z direction. In this way, the support member 202 can reinforce and support the flexible base layer of the display panel 201, prevent the flexible base layer from being damaged by external collision, and prevent the display panel 201 from having abnormal functions.

[0107] In some embodiments, Fig. 9 As shown, the support member 202 includes a first support film 2021 and a second support film 2022 stacked along the Z direction, and the first support film 2021 and the second support film 2022 are respectively attached to the surfaces of the first non-display area 201b and the second non-display area 201d. It can be understood that the first support film 2021 and the second support film 2022 originally belong to the same support film. Before the display panel 201 is bent, that is, before the pad bending process, a support film is attached to the bottom of the flexible base layer of the display panel 201, and then the support film corresponding to the bending area 201c is removed to form the first support film 2021 and the second support film 2022, so that the support force on the display panel 201 is guaranteed while reducing the impact on the bending area 201c.

[0108] In some embodiments, the support member 202 further includes a heat dissipation layer 2023 and / or a padding block 2024 stacked between the first support film 2021 and the second support film 2022. The heat dissipation layer 2023 can not only dissipate heat for the metal signal lines in the first non-display area 201b and the second non-display area 201d, but also shield the signals between the first non-display area 201b and the second non-display area 201d to avoid signal crosstalk. The padding block 2024 is mainly used to make up for the distance between the first non-display area 201b and the second non-display area 201d along the Y direction, so as to achieve a distance of 2R between the first non-display area 201b and the second non-display area 201d.

[0109] In some embodiments, Fig. 9 As shown, the display module 102 may also include a polarizer 203, an optical glue 204 and a cover plate 205. The polarizer 203, the optical glue 204 and the cover plate 205 are sequentially stacked on the surface of the display panel 201. Among them, the polarizer 203 is used to control the propagation direction and polarization state of light, so as to adjust the display brightness and contrast. The optical glue 204 mainly realizes the full bonding between the cover plate 205 and the polarizer 203, which can effectively eliminate the air layer generated between the two to a certain extent and solve the glare problem. The cover plate 205 is used to protect the display panel 201. Generally, the cover plate 205 can be made of glass.

[0110] In the above description of this embodiment, unless otherwise specified, “ / ” means or, for example, A / B can identify A or B; “and / or” in this article is merely a way to describe the association relationship of associated objects, indicating that three relationships may exist, for example, A and / or B can represent the existence of A alone, B alone, and A and B at the same time.

[0111] It should be noted that in the examples and description of this patent, relational terms such as first and second, etc. are only used to distinguish one entity or operation from another entity or operation, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Moreover, the terms "include", "comprise" or any other variants thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, so that a process, method, article or device including a series of elements includes not only those elements, but also other elements not explicitly listed, or also includes elements inherent to such process, method, article or device. In the absence of further restrictions, the elements defined by the sentence "including one" do not exclude the existence of other identical elements in the process, method, article or device including the elements.

[0112] Although the present application has been illustrated and described with reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the scope of the present application.

Claims

1. A display panel, characterized in that: It includes a display area, a bending area and a non-display area, wherein the non-display area includes a first non-display area and a second non-display area; The display area, the first non-display area, the bending area and the second non-display area are sequentially connected along the length direction of the display panel; When the display panel is assembled, the bending area is bent, and the first non-display area and the second non-display area are arranged opposite to each other along the thickness direction of the display panel; Wherein, at least one groove is provided at the junction of the bending area and the non-display area.

2. The display panel according to claim 1, characterized in that: The junction includes a first junction between the first non-display area and the bending area, and a second junction between the second non-display area and the bending area; The at least one groove includes a first groove disposed on one of the first junction and the second junction.

3. The display panel according to claim 2, characterized in that: The at least one groove further includes a second groove disposed on the other of the first junction and the second junction.

4. The display panel according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: When the display panel is in an assembled state, a distance between the first non-display area and the second non-display area is 2R, where R is a bending radius of the bending area.

5. The display panel according to claim 3, characterized in that: The distance between the first groove and the second groove along the length direction is πR, where R is the bending radius of the bending zone.

6. The display panel according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The center plane of the groove in the length direction coincides with the interface where the groove is located.

7. The display panel according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The opening of the groove faces the back side of the display panel.

8. The display panel according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: Along the width direction of the display panel, the groove extends from one end to the other end of the display panel.

9. The display panel according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that: The display panel includes a base layer, and the groove is arranged on the base layer; wherein the groove depth of the groove is 0.2 to 1.5 times the thickness of the base layer.

10. The display panel according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that: An opening width of the groove along the length direction is 5 μm to 15 μm.

11. A display module, characterized in that: A device comprising a support member and the display panel according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the display panel is in an assembled state; The supporting member is disposed between the first non-display area and the second non-display area.

12. The display module according to claim 11, characterized in that: The distance between the first non-display area and the second non-display area is 2R, and the thickness of the support member is 2R.

13. The display module according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that: The support member includes a heat dissipation layer and / or a spacer block.

14. An electronic device, characterized in that: It comprises a housing and the display module according to any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein the display module is arranged on the housing.

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