Display panel and display device

Abstract

The invention relates to a display panel and a display device. The display panel comprises a flexible screen which comprises an outer display area and an inner display area which are adjacent to each other; the cover plate is arranged on one side of the flexible screen; the cover plate comprises a rigid plate body and a bendable flexible plate body, the flexible plate body is arranged in the inner display area, and the rigid plate body is arranged in the outer display area. According to the display panel provided by the embodiment of the invention, by unfolding the folded inner display area, the flexible plate body can realize the unfolding of the display panel. When the display panel is in an unfolded state, the flexible screen performs display through the cover plate; when the display panel is in the folded state, the outer display area performs display through the rigid plate body, and the outer display area resists external impact through the rigid plate body, so that the impact resistance of the outer display area is ensured, and the service life of the outer display area is prolonged.

Description

Technical Field

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

[0002] OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) display panel is one of the hot topics in the current display panel research field. Compared with liquid crystal display panels, OLED display panels have the advantages of low energy consumption, low cost, self-luminescence, wide viewing angle and fast response speed.

[0003] However, among the current OLED display panels, folding screens have the problem of poor impact resistance. Summary of the invention

[0004] Based on this, it is necessary to provide a display panel and a display device to address the problems existing in the above display panels.

[0005] In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a display panel, including:

[0006] A flexible screen, comprising an outer display area and an inner display area adjacent to each other;

[0007] A cover plate is arranged on one side of the light emitting surface of the flexible screen; the cover plate includes a rigid plate body and a bendable flexible plate body, the flexible plate body is arranged in the inner display area, and the rigid plate body is arranged in the outer display area.

[0008] The display panel provided in the embodiment of the present application is configured to divide the flexible screen into an adjacent outer display area and an inner display area, and to limit the rigid plate body of the cover plate to be arranged in the outer display area, and the flexible plate body to be bendable and arranged in the inner display area; so that the display panel can be unfolded by unfolding the folded inner display area and the flexible plate body. When the display panel is in the unfolded state, the flexible screen is displayed through the cover plate; when the display panel is in the folded state, the outer display area is displayed through the rigid plate body, and the outer display area resists external impact through the rigid plate body, thereby ensuring the impact resistance of the outer display area and improving the service life of the outer display area.

[0009] In one embodiment, the rigid board covers the outer display area, and the flexible board covers the inner display area;

[0010] Preferably, when the display panel is in a folded state, along the light emitting direction of the display panel, the orthographic projection of the rigid board at least covers the end of the flexible board close to the rigid board;

[0011] Preferably, when the display panel is in a folded state, the rigid plate body covers the end of the flexible plate body close to the outer display area;

[0012] Preferably, when the display panel is in a folded state, along the light emitting direction of the display panel, the orthographic projection of the rigid board at least covers the bending area of ​​the flexible board.

[0013] In this way, the impact resistance of the outer display area can be improved and the flexible screen can be further protected.

[0014] In one embodiment, the rigid plate is a curved surface structure, including a first straight portion and a curved portion formed at one end of the first straight portion, the outer display area includes a first display area and a curved area formed at the end of the first display area, the first straight portion covers the first display area, and the curved portion covers the curved area;

[0015] Preferably, the thickness of the curved portion is smaller than the thickness of the first straight portion;

[0016] Preferably, the bending portion has a thinned area at a position opposite to the bending area, and the thinned area is used to accommodate the bending area;

[0017] Preferably, the rigid plate has a smooth transition on a side away from the outer display area.

[0018] In this way, the rigid plate can be arranged on the outer display area more conveniently and reliably.

[0019] In one of the embodiments, the display panel further includes a middle frame, the middle frame is arranged on a side of the flexible screen away from the cover plate, the middle frame includes a first frame body, and the first frame body is arranged in a first bending space formed by the outer display area and the inner display area;

[0020] Preferably, the first frame is filled in the first bending space;

[0021] Preferably, the end of the first frame at least extends out of the first bending space;

[0022] Preferably, the first frame is a wedge-shaped structure, and its size increases along a direction extending into the first bending space.

[0023] In this way, the outer display area can be supported by the first frame, thereby further improving the impact resistance of the outer display area.

[0024] In one embodiment, the middle frame further includes a second frame body, which is bendably connected to the first frame body as a whole and is arranged on a side of the flexible screen away from the flexible board body;

[0025] Preferably, the second frame and the first frame are connected via a rotating shaft;

[0026] Preferably, a flexible connection portion is formed at one end of the second frame body close to the first frame body, and the flexible connection portion is bendable;

[0027] Preferably, the second frame body cooperates with the first frame body to form a receiving cavity, and the flexible board body is received in the receiving cavity.

[0028] In this way, the inner display area can be supported by the second frame to protect the inner display area.

[0029] In one embodiment, the rigid plate and the flexible plate are arranged on the flexible screen at intervals;

[0030] Preferably, the distance between the rigid board and the flexible board is greater than or equal to the maximum sliding amount of an end of the flexible board close to the rigid board when the display panel is unfolded.

[0031] Preferably, the distance between the rigid plate body and the flexible plate body is 0.1 mm-0.5 mm;

[0032] Preferably, the rigid plate and the flexible plate are attached to the flexible screen by optical adhesive;

[0033] Preferably, when the display panel is unfolded, the rigid board body and the flexible board body are flush with the surface away from the flexible screen.

[0034] In this way, the display panel can be switched between the folded state and the unfolded state more conveniently and smoothly.

[0035] In one of the embodiments, a sealing structure is provided between the rigid plate body and the flexible plate body;

[0036] Preferably, the sealing structure covers the gap between the rigid plate body and the flexible plate body;

[0037] Preferably, the sealing structure extends to the surface of the rigid plate and the flexible plate away from the flexible screen;

[0038] Preferably, part of the sealing structure is filled between the rigid plate body and the flexible plate body;

[0039] Preferably, the sealing structure is located above the gap between the rigid plate body and the flexible plate body.

[0040] In this way, the gap between the rigid board and the flexible board can be sealed to protect the flexible screen from liquid and dust.

[0041] In one embodiment, the sealing structure connects the rigid plate body and the flexible plate body;

[0042] Preferably, the hardness of the sealing structure is 10 MPa-1000 MPa;

[0043] Preferably, the sealing structure is made of plastic or nylon;

[0044] Preferably, the thickness of the sealing structure is within 1 mm.

[0045] In this way, the rigid board body and the flexible board body can be reinforced on the flexible screen to improve the structural reliability and stability of the display panel.

[0046] In one embodiment, the hardness of the rigid plate is not less than 110 GPA;

[0047] Preferably, the material of the rigid plate is one or a combination of glass, a combination of ultra-thin flexible glass and thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer, transparent polyimide, and polyethylene terephthalate;

[0048] Preferably, the flexible board and the rigid board are made of the same material, and the thickness of the flexible board is smaller than the thickness of the rigid board;

[0049] Preferably, when the material of the flexible board and the rigid board is transparent polyimide or polyethylene terephthalate, the thickness of the flexible board is 50um-60um, and the thickness of the rigid board is not less than 100um.

[0050] In this way, the selection of a rigid board body can be facilitated, and a rigid board body with strong impact resistance can be provided.

[0051] In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a display device, comprising the display panel described in any embodiment of the first aspect.

[0052] The display device provided in the embodiment of the present application divides the flexible screen into an adjacent outer display area and an inner display area, and the rigid plate body of the limit cover is set in the outer display area, and the flexible plate body is bendable and set in the inner display area; so that the display panel can be unfolded by unfolding the folded inner display area and the flexible plate body. When the display panel is in the unfolded state, the flexible screen displays through the cover plate; when the display panel is in the folded state, the outer display area displays through the rigid plate body, and the outer display area resists external impact through the rigid plate body, thereby ensuring the impact resistance of the outer display area and improving the service life of the outer display area. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0053] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application or the conventional technology, the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the conventional technology descriptions are briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present application. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative work.

[0054] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a folded state of a display panel provided in one embodiment of the present application.

[0055] Figure 2 for Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure of the display panel in the expanded state.

[0056] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of a folded state of another display panel provided by an embodiment of the present application.

[0057] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of a folded state of another display panel provided by an embodiment of the present application.

[0058] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure of another display panel in an unfolded state provided by an embodiment of the present application.

[0059] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure of another display panel in an unfolded state provided by an embodiment of the present application.

[0060] Figure 7 A schematic diagram of a folded state of another display panel provided by an embodiment of the present application.

[0061] Figure 8 for Figure 6 Schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure of the display panel in the expanded state.

[0062] Fig. 9 for Figure 6 Schematic diagram of a top view of the display panel in the expanded state.

[0063] Fig.10 A schematic diagram of the structure of a display device provided in one embodiment of the present application.

[0064] Description of reference numerals:

[0065] 01. Display device;

[0066] 10. Display panel;

[0067] 100, flexible screen; 110, outer display area; 111, first display area; 112, bending area; 120, inner display area; 130, polarizing layer; 140, flexible display module; 150, lower protective layer; 160, supporting layer; 170, first bending space;

[0068] 200, cover plate; 210, rigid plate body; 211, first straight portion; 212, curved portion; 2121, thinning area; 213, UTG layer; 214, TPU layer; 220, flexible plate body; 221, first plate body layer; 222, second plate body layer; 230, connecting glue;

[0069] 300, middle frame; 310, first frame body; 320, second frame body; 330, rotation axis; 340, flexible connection part; 350, accommodating cavity;

[0070] 400, optical adhesive;

[0071] 500. Sealing structure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0072] In order to facilitate the understanding of the present application, the present application will be described more fully below with reference to the relevant drawings. The preferred embodiments of the present application are provided in the drawings. However, the present application can be implemented in many different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein. On the contrary, the purpose of providing these embodiments is to make the understanding of the disclosure of the present application more thorough and comprehensive.

[0073] It should be noted that when an element is referred to as being "fixed to" another element, it may be directly on the other element or there may be a central element. When an element is considered to be "connected to" another element, it may be directly connected to the other element or there may be a central element at the same time. The terms "vertical", "horizontal", "left", "right" and similar expressions used herein are for illustrative purposes only.

[0074] In this document, spatially related terms such as "upper" and "lower" are defined with reference to the accompanying drawings. Therefore, it will be understood that "upper" and "lower" are used interchangeably. It will be understood that when a layer is referred to as being "on" another layer, it can be directly formed on the other layer, or intervening layers may also be present. Therefore, it will be understood that when a layer is referred to as being "directly on" another layer, there are no intervening layers interposed therebetween.

[0075] In the accompanying drawings, the sizes of layers and regions may be exaggerated for clarity. It is understood that when a layer or element is referred to as being "on" another layer or substrate, the layer or element may be directly on the other layer or substrate, or there may be an intermediate layer. In addition, it is also understood that when a layer is referred to as being "between" two layers, the layer may be the only layer between the two layers, or there may be one or more intermediate layers. In addition, the same reference numerals always represent the same elements.

[0076] Hereinafter, although terms such as "first", "second", etc. may be used to describe various components, these components are not necessarily limited to the above terms. The above terms are only used to distinguish one component from another component. It will also be understood that expressions used in the singular form include plural expressions, unless the expression in the singular form has a significantly different meaning in the context. In addition, in the following embodiments, it will also be understood that the terms "comprising" and / or "having" used herein illustrate the presence of the stated features or components, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features or components.

[0077] In the following embodiments, when a layer, region, or element is "connected", it can be interpreted that the layer, region, or element is not only directly connected but also connected through other constituent elements placed therebetween. For example, when a layer, region, element, etc. is described as being connected or electrically connected, the layer, region, element, etc. can be connected or electrically connected not only directly or directly, but also through another layer, region, element, etc. placed therebetween.

[0078] As used in the application documents, the term "and / or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the related listed items. When a statement such as "at least one (one) of..." is placed after a list of elements (elements), it modifies the entire list of elements (elements), rather than modifying the individual elements (elements) in the list (elements).

[0079] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as those commonly understood by those skilled in the art to which this application belongs. The terms used herein in the specification of the application are only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit this application. The term "and / or" used herein includes any and all combinations of one or more of the related listed items.

[0080] It should also be understood that the terms “include / comprises” or “having” and the like specify the presence of stated features, wholes, steps, operations, components, parts or combinations thereof, but do not exclude the possibility of the presence or addition of one or more other features, wholes, steps, operations, components, parts or combinations thereof.

[0081] It should also be understood that when interpreting an element, even if not explicitly described, the element is interpreted as including a range of error, which should be within the acceptable deviation range of the specific value determined by those skilled in the art. For example, "approximately", "approximately" or "substantially" can mean within one or more standard deviations, which are not limited here.

[0082] Furthermore, in the specification, the phrase “planar distribution schematic diagram” refers to a drawing when a target portion is viewed from above, and the phrase “cross-sectional schematic diagram” refers to a drawing when a section taken by vertically cutting the target portion is viewed from the side.

[0083] In addition, the drawings are not drawn to a 1:1 scale, and the relative sizes of the elements in the drawings are drawn only as examples and not necessarily according to the true scale.

[0084] As described in the background technology, in existing OLED display panels, the outer folding side of the flexible screen is exposed, resulting in poor impact resistance of the flexible screen. In order to improve the impact resistance of the flexible screen, the current measure is to thicken the flexible screen, which will cause the outer folding side of the flexible screen to have a larger rebound force, affecting the user experience of the display panel.

[0085] In view of the above problems, the embodiments of the present application provide a display panel and a display device, which protect the flexible screen by setting a cover plate on the flexible screen. By setting the rigid plate body in the cover plate in the outer display area of ​​the flexible screen, the exposed outer display area can be protected from impact when the display panel is in a folded state, and while meeting the demand for impact protection of the outer display area, the overall size of the display panel is still small. By setting the bendable flexible plate body in the cover plate in the inner display area of ​​the flexible screen, the inner display area can be exposed by directly holding one end of the display panel to unfold it, which can more conveniently realize the unfolding of the display panel and improve the user experience of the display panel.

[0086] First, refer to Figure 1 as well as Figure 2 The embodiment of the present application provides a display panel 10, which includes a flexible screen 100 and a cover plate 200, wherein: the flexible screen 100 includes an outer display area 110 and an inner display area 120, and the outer display area 110 and the inner display area 120 are adjacent to each other; the cover plate 200 is arranged on the light emitting surface side of the flexible screen 100, and the cover plate 200 includes a rigid plate body 210 and a flexible plate body 220. The flexible plate body 220 can be bent so that the display panel 10 forms a structural form of at least three folds. The flexible plate body 220 is arranged in the inner display area 120, and the rigid plate body 210 is arranged in the outer display area 110.

[0087] It should be noted that the external display area 110 is a display area corresponding to the rigid board 210, and the internal display area 120 is a display area corresponding to the flexible board 220. Of course, the area between the rigid board 210 and the flexible board 220 can be used as both the display area of ​​the external display area 110 and the display area of ​​the internal display area 120, as long as the external display area 110 and the internal display area 120 are adjacent to each other at this position.

[0088] In addition, it should be supplemented that the structure and shape of the outer display area 110 and the rigid board 210 in the present application remain unchanged, that is, the folded state or unfolded state in the present application corresponds to the structure and shape of the inner display area 120 and the flexible board 220 in the folded or unfolded state. Specifically, when the display panel 10 in the present application is in the folded state, the flexible board 220 is bent, and at this time, the outer display area 110 is displayed as the display area of ​​the display panel 10; when the display panel 10 in the present application is in the unfolded state, the flexible board 220 is unfolded, and at this time, the display panel 10 is flipped over, and the inner display area 120 is displayed as the display area of ​​the display panel 10.

[0089] It should be noted that the cover plate 200 can be arranged on the light-emitting side of the flexible screen 100 by pasting, printing, coating, etc. The flexible screen 100 may include a flexible display module 140, and the flexible screen 100 may also include a stacked polarizing layer 130, a flexible display module 140, a lower protective layer 150, and a supporting layer 160. The flexible display module 140 has a substrate and a flat layer, a light-emitting functional layer, an insulating layer and other film layers arranged on the substrate to realize the display function. The polarizing layer 130 is arranged to realize the polarization and polarization analysis of light, and the lower protective layer 150 is used to block external damage such as impact, scratches, and collisions. The material of the supporting layer 160 includes hard materials such as stainless steel (such as SUS), which is not easy to deform when subjected to force. The supporting layer 160 can well ensure the bending shape of the display panel 10 and further reinforce the structure of the display panel 10.

[0090] The display panel 10 provided in the embodiment of the present application is formed by dividing the flexible screen 100 into an adjacent outer display area 110 and an inner display area 120, and limiting the rigid plate body 210 of the cover plate 200 to be arranged in the outer display area 110, and the flexible plate body 220 to be bendable and arranged in the inner display area 120; so that the display panel 10 can be unfolded by unfolding the folded inner display area 120 and the flexible plate body 220.

[0091] Since the flexible plate body 220 is bendable, the display panel 10 can be unfolded by setting the bendable flexible plate body 220 in the cover plate 200 in the inner display area 120 of the flexible screen 100, so that one end of the display panel 10 can be directly held to unfold it, thereby eliminating the need for a shaft during the unfolding process of the display panel 10. Since the display panel 10 does not require a shaft to unfold, the display panel 10 is thinner and has a smaller overall size. When the display panel 10 is in the unfolded state, the flexible screen 100 displays through the flexible plate body 220; when the display panel 10 is in the folded state, the outer display area 110 displays through the rigid plate body 210, and the outer display area 110 resists external impacts through the rigid plate body 210, thereby ensuring the impact resistance of the outer display area 110 and improving the service life of the outer display area 110.

[0092] It can also be understood that: the embodiment of the present application sets a rigid plate body 210 on the outer folding side of the flexible screen 100, and the rigid plate body 210 plays a role in resisting external impact and protecting the outer folding side of the flexible screen 100. A flexible plate body 220 is set on the inner folding side of the flexible screen 100. The flexible plate body 220 can not only protect the inner folding side of the flexible screen 100, but also can realize the folding of the inner folding side of the flexible screen 100 by bending the flexible plate body 220 and the inner folding side of the flexible screen 100, and by limiting the adjacency of the flexible plate body 220 and the rigid plate body 210, the folding of the display panel 10 is realized, and the folded display panel 10 is thinner and has a smaller overall size.

[0093] In one embodiment, referring to Figure 1 as well as Figure 2 The rigid plate 210 covers the outer display area 110, so that the entire outer display area 110 has the rigid plate 210, and the entire outer display area 110 can be protected from impact. The flexible plate 220 covers the inner display area 120, so that the entire inner display area 120 has the flexible plate 220, which can fully protect the inner display area 120 and facilitate the folding of the inner display area 120.

[0094] In one example, when the display panel 10 is in a folded state, along the light emitting direction of the display panel 10, the orthographic projection of the rigid board body 210 just covers the end of the flexible board body 220 close to the rigid board body 210; or, when the display panel 10 is in a folded state, along the light emitting direction of the display panel 10, the orthographic projection of the rigid board body 210 covers the end of the flexible board body 220 close to the rigid board body 210, and exceeds the end of the flexible board body 220 close to the rigid board body 210; both methods can make the area covered by the rigid board body 210 larger, and more areas on the flexible screen 100 can be protected against impact.

[0095] In one example, when the display panel 10 is in a folded state, the rigid board body 210 blocks the end of the flexible board body 220 close to the external display area 110, so that the area of ​​the external display area 110 and the rigid board body 210 can be larger. When the display panel 10 is in a folded state, the display area of ​​the external display area 110 is larger, the display effect is better, and the user experience is improved.

[0096] In one example, when the display panel 10 is in a folded state, along the light emitting direction of the display panel 10, the orthographic projection of the rigid board body 210 just covers the bending area of ​​the flexible board body 220; or, when the display panel 10 is in a folded state, along the light emitting direction of the display panel 10, the orthographic projection of the rigid board body 210 covers the bending area of ​​the flexible board body 220 and exceeds the bending area of ​​the flexible board body 220; both methods can make the area covered by the rigid board body 210 larger, and more areas on the flexible screen 100 can be protected against impact.

[0097] In this way, by limiting the positional relationship between the rigid board 210 and the external display area 110, and the flexible board 220 and the inner display area 120, the rigid board 210 has a larger coverage area on the flexible screen 100, thereby improving the impact resistance of the external display area 110, and the flexible board 220 has a larger coverage area on the inner display area 120, so as to further protect the flexible screen 100.

[0098] In one embodiment, referring to Figure 3 as well as Figure 4 The rigid plate 210 may be a curved structure. The rigid plate 210 includes a first straight portion 211 and a curved portion 212. The curved portion 212 is formed at one end of the first straight portion 211. In a specific configuration, the rigid plate 210 is an integrated structure to facilitate the preparation and structural design of the rigid plate 210. The curved portion 212 may be in an arc shape, such as a fan shape, a semicircular arc shape, etc. The external display area 110 includes a first display area 111 and a curved area 112. The curved area 112 is formed at the end of the first display area 111. The first straight portion 211 covers the first display area 111, and the curved portion 212 covers the curved area 112, so as to more conveniently realize the configuration of the rigid plate 210 on the external display area 110.

[0099] In one example, the thickness of the curved portion 212 is less than the thickness of the first straight portion 211; since there may be slippage or separation between the film layers when the flexible screen 100 is bent, the thickness of the flexible screen 100 in the bending area may increase slightly. Therefore, by limiting the thickness of the curved portion 212 of the rigid plate body 210 to be less than the thickness of the first straight portion 211 of the rigid plate body 210, so as to be able to adapt to the curved area 112 of the external display area 110, the thickness of the rigid plate body 210 at various locations on the external display area 110 is equal.

[0100] In one example, a thinned area 2121 is provided at a position opposite to the bending portion 212 and the bending zone 112, and the thinned area 2121 is used to accommodate the bending zone 112, so that the thinned area 2121 is etched on the rigid plate 210, or the rigid plate 210 with different thicknesses in different areas is directly printed or sprayed, so that the rigid plate 210 with the bending portion 212 can be obtained more conveniently.

[0101] In one example, the side of the rigid board 210 away from the outer display area 110 has a smooth transition, so that the surface of the side of the rigid board 210 away from the outer display area 110 is beautiful, thereby improving the user experience.

[0102] In this way, by limiting the shapes of the rigid plate body 210 and the external display area 110, and matching the shapes of the rigid plate body 210 and the external display area 110, on the one hand, it is possible to more conveniently realize the arrangement of the rigid plate body 210 on the external display area 110, which is convenient for the preparation of the display panel 10; on the other hand, the connection between the rigid plate body 210 and the external display area 110 can be more reliable, and the force at each location can be more uniform, so that the structural stability of the display panel 10 is better.

[0103] In one embodiment, referring to Figure 3 as well as Figure 4 , the display panel 10 also includes a middle frame 300, which is arranged on the side of the flexible screen 100 away from the cover plate 200, and the middle frame 300 includes a first frame body 310, which is arranged in the first bending space 170 formed by the outer display area 110 and the inner display area 120, so as to realize the fixed connection between the first frame body 310 and the side of the flexible screen 100 away from the rigid plate 210 and the side of the flexible screen 100 away from the flexible plate 220, so as to facilitate the first frame body 310 to support the outer display area 110. In the specific setting, the first frame body 310 and the side of the flexible screen 100 away from the rigid plate 210 and the side of the flexible screen 100 away from the flexible plate 220 can be fixedly connected by a glue layer. It should be noted that the first bending space 170 formed by the outer display area 110 and the inner display area 120 is a fixed area, and the first bending space 170 does not change whether the display panel 10 is in a folded state or an unfolded state.

[0104] In one example, the first frame body 310 is filled in the first bending space 170 to ensure that the first frame body 310 is attached to the side of the flexible screen 100 away from the rigid board body 210 and the side of the flexible screen 100 away from the flexible board body 220, so that the first bending space 170 formed by the outer display area 110 and the inner display area 120 remains unchanged, ensuring that the structure of the display panel 10 is stable and reliable.

[0105] In one example, the end of the first frame body 310 is just flush with the end of the first bending space 170, or the end of the first frame body 310 extends out of the first bending space 170; both methods enable the first frame body 310 to fill the first bending space 170, ensuring that the first frame body 310 can support the outer display area 110 and the inner display area 120.

[0106] In one example, the first frame body 310 is a wedge-shaped structure, and the size of the first frame body 310 increases along the direction of extending into the first bending space 170, so that the wedge-shaped first frame body 310 can better support the outer display area 110 and the inner display area 120, ensuring that the first bending space 170 remains unchanged.

[0107] In this way, by setting the first frame 310 on the side of the flexible screen 100 away from the rigid board 210 and the side of the flexible screen 100 away from the flexible board 220, the external display area 110 and the internal display area 120 can be supported by the first frame 310. On the basis of the rigid board 210 providing impact protection for the external display area 110, the first frame 310 can also provide impact protection for the external display area 110, thereby further improving the impact resistance of the external display area 110.

[0108] In one embodiment, referring to Figure 3 as well as Figure 4 The middle frame 300 also includes a second frame body 320, which is bendably connected to the first frame body 310 as a whole, and the second frame body 320 is arranged on a side of the flexible screen 100 away from the flexible board body 220; in this way, when the inner display area 120 is unfolded, the second frame body 320 is bent relative to the first frame body 310 to ensure that the inner display area 120 can be unfolded.

[0109] In one example, referring to Figure 3 The second frame body 320 and the first frame body 310 are connected via a rotating shaft 330 . When the inner display area 120 is unfolded, the second frame body 320 rotates relative to the first frame body 310 around the rotating shaft 330 to achieve bending of the second frame body 320 relative to the first frame body 310 .

[0110] In one example, referring to Figure 4 A flexible connection portion 340 is formed at one end of the second frame body 320 close to the first frame body 310 , and the flexible connection portion 340 is bendable. When the inner display area 120 is unfolded, the flexible connection portion 340 bends accordingly to achieve bending of the second frame body 320 relative to the first frame body 310 .

[0111] In one example, referring to Figure 3 as well as Figure 4The second frame body 320 cooperates with the first frame body 310 to form a accommodating cavity 350, and the flexible board body 220 is accommodated in the accommodating cavity 350, so that the inner display area 120 and the flexible board body 220 are both located in the accommodating cavity 350. On the one hand, it can support the inner display area 120 and the flexible board body 220 and improve the impact resistance. On the other hand, it can also prevent liquid, dust, etc. from entering between the inner display area 120 and the flexible board body 220 to protect the display panel 10.

[0112] In this way, by setting the second frame body 320 on the side of the flexible screen 100 away from the flexible board body 220, the inner display area 120 can be supported by the second frame body 320. On the basis of the flexible board body 220 providing protection for the inner display area 120, the second frame body 320 can provide impact protection for the inner display area 120 to further protect the inner display area 120.

[0113] In one embodiment, referring to Figure 1 as well as Figure 2 The rigid board 210 and the flexible board 220 are spaced apart on the flexible screen 100 , and the space between the rigid board 210 and the flexible board 220 can provide a sliding buffer space for the flexible board 220 when it is in an unfolded state.

[0114] In one example, the spacing between the rigid board 210 and the flexible board 220 is greater than or equal to the maximum sliding amount of the end of the flexible board 220 close to the rigid board 210 when the display panel 10 is unfolded, so as to ensure that there is no collision or interference between the rigid board 210 and the flexible board 220 when the display panel 10 is unfolded, thereby ensuring that the unfolding process is smooth and stable.

[0115] In one example, the spacing between the rigid board 210 and the flexible board 220 is 0.1mm-0.5mm. Since the maximum slippage of the end of the flexible board 220 close to the rigid board 210 when the display panel 10 is unfolded is generally less than 0.1mm, and the spacing between the rigid board 210 and the flexible board 220 is greater than 0.5mm, it will affect the appearance of the display panel 10. In this way, by limiting the spacing between the rigid board 210 and the flexible board 220 to 0.1mm-0.5mm, the rigid board 210 and the flexible board 220 can be set more conveniently and reliably. In specific settings, the spacing between the rigid board 210 and the flexible board 220 can be 0.1mm, 0.15mm, 0.2mm, 0.25mm, 0.3mm, 0.35mm, 0.4mm, 0.45mm or 0.5mm. Of course, the spacing between the rigid board 210 and the flexible board 220 is not limited to the above values, and can also be other values ​​within the range of 0.1mm-0.5mm.

[0116] In one example, referring to Figure 5 as well as Figure 6 The rigid board 210 and the flexible board 220 are attached to the flexible screen 100 through the optical adhesive 400, so as to facilitate the arrangement of the rigid board 210 and the flexible board 220 on the flexible screen 100. In the specific arrangement, the optical adhesive 400 can be OCA (Optically Clear Adhesive) or OCR (Optical Clear Resin), or other adhesive layers that can meet the requirements.

[0117] In one example, referring to Figure 2 , Figure 5 as well as Figure 6 When the display panel 10 is unfolded, the rigid board 210 and the flexible board 220 are flush with each other away from the flexible screen 100, so that the light emitting surfaces of the display panel 10 in the inner display area 120 and the outer display area 110 are flush with each other, thereby improving the aesthetics and display effect of the display panel 10. In specific settings, the thickness of the optical glue 400 in the inner display area 120 and the outer display area 110 is adjusted to achieve the flushness of the rigid board 210 and the flexible board 220 away from the flexible screen 100.

[0118] In this way, by limiting the gap between the rigid plate body 210 and the flexible plate body 220 so that the cover plate 200 is not an integral structure, the gap between the rigid plate body 210 and the flexible plate body 220 can provide a sliding buffer space for the flexible plate body 220 when in the unfolded state. On the one hand, it can reduce the risk of peeling of the adhesive layer between the flexible plate body 220 and the flexible screen 100, and on the other hand, it can more conveniently and smoothly realize the switching of the display panel 10 between the folded state and the unfolded state.

[0119] In one embodiment, referring to Figure 7 , Figure 8 as well as Fig. 9 A sealing structure 500 is disposed between the rigid board body 210 and the flexible board body 220 , and the sealing structure 500 is used to seal the gap between the rigid board body 210 and the flexible board body 220 .

[0120] In one example, the sealing structure 500 covers the gap between the rigid board 210 and the flexible board 220 to isolate the gap between the rigid board 210 and the flexible board 220 from the external environment, preventing liquid, dust and other impurities in the external environment from entering the flexible screen 100 through the gap between the rigid board 210 and the flexible board 220, affecting the display performance of the flexible screen 100, or entering the connection between the rigid board 210 and the flexible screen 100, or the flexible board 220 and the flexible screen 100, affecting the structural stability of the display panel 10.

[0121] In one example, the sealing structure 500 extends to the surface of the rigid plate 210 and the flexible plate 220 away from the flexible screen 100. On the one hand, it can make the path of impurities such as liquid and dust entering from the gap between the sealing structure 500 and the rigid plate 210 and the flexible plate 220 to the gap between the rigid plate 210 and the flexible plate 220 longer, thereby reducing the entry of impurities. On the other hand, it can block the gap between the rigid plate 210 and the flexible plate 220, thereby improving the aesthetics of the display panel 10.

[0122] In one example, part of the sealing structure 500 is filled between the rigid board 210 and the flexible board 220 so that the path of impurities such as liquid and dust in the gap between the rigid board 210 and the flexible board 220 is more complicated and difficult to pass, thereby improving the sealing effect of the sealing structure 500.

[0123] In one example, the sealing structure 500 is located above the gap between the rigid board body 210 and the flexible board body 220 to avoid the setting of the sealing structure 500 affecting the gap between the rigid board body 210 and the flexible board body 220, thereby ensuring that the display panel 10 can switch between the folded state and the unfolded state more conveniently and smoothly while being sealed.

[0124] In this way, by setting a sealing structure 500 between the rigid board body 210 and the flexible board body 220, the gap between the rigid board body 210 and the flexible board body 220 can be blocked by the sealing structure 500. On the one hand, the gap between the rigid board body 210 and the flexible board body 220 can be sealed to protect the flexible screen 100 from liquid and dust. On the other hand, the gap amount can be reduced to improve the appearance of the display panel 10.

[0125] In one embodiment, referring to Figure 7 , Figure 8 as well as Fig. 9 The sealing structure 500 connects the rigid board 210 and the flexible board 220 , so that a force is exerted between the rigid board 210 and the flexible board 220 through the sealing structure 500 on the basis of providing a sealing effect through the sealing structure 500 .

[0126] In one example, the hardness of the sealing structure 500 is 10MPa-1000MPa, so as to adapt to the slippage of the end of the flexible board 220 close to the rigid board 210 when the display panel 10 is unfolded, and to prevent the sealing structure 500 from being too hard to affect the slippage of the flexible board 220, and to prevent the sealing structure 500 from being too soft to affect the connection reliability with the rigid board 210 and the flexible board 220. In specific settings, the hardness of the sealing structure 500 can be 10MPa, 100MPa, 200MPa, 300MPa, 400MPa, 500MPa, 600MPa, 700MPa, 800MPa, 900MPa or 1000MPa. Of course, the hardness of the sealing structure 500 is not limited to the above values, and can also be other values ​​within the range of 10MPa-1000MPa.

[0127] In one example, the material of the sealing structure 500 may be plastic, or the material of the sealing structure 500 may also be nylon to facilitate the preparation of the sealing structure 500. Of course, the material of the sealing structure 500 is not limited thereto, and may also be other materials that can meet the requirements.

[0128] In one example, the thickness of the sealing structure 500 is within 1 mm, so that the sealing structure 500 is not too abrupt in the gap between the rigid board 210 and the flexible board 220, and the aesthetics can be improved on the basis of ensuring the sealing effect and the connection effect. In specific settings, the thickness of the sealing structure 500 can be 0.1 mm, 0.2 mm, 0.3 mm, 0.4 mm, 0.5 mm, 0.6 mm, 0.7 mm, 0.8 mm, 0.9 mm or 1 mm. Of course, the thickness of the sealing structure 500 is not limited to the above values, and can also be other values ​​within this range of 1 mm or less.

[0129] In this way, the rigid board body 210 and the flexible board body 220 are connected through the sealing structure 500, so that the rigid board body 210 and the flexible board body 220 can be reinforced on the flexible screen 100, so that when the display panel 10 switches between the folded state and the unfolded state, the sealing structure 500 can provide a connecting force between the rigid board body 210 and the flexible board body 220, reduce the slippage of the flexible board body 220 relative to the rigid board body 210, and improve the structural reliability and stability of the display panel 10.

[0130] In one embodiment, referring to Figure 5 as well as Figure 6, the hardness of the rigid board 210 is not less than 110GPA, so that the hardness of the rigid board 210 is relatively large, and the impact resistance function of the outer display area 110 is met. In specific settings, the hardness of the rigid board 210 can be 110GPA, 120GPA, 130GPA, 140GPA, 150GPA, 160GPA, 170GPA, 180GPA, 190GPA or 200GPA. Of course, the hardness of the rigid board 210 is not limited to the above values, and can also be other values ​​within the range of not less than 110GPA.

[0131] In one example, the material of the rigid board 210 is one or a combination of glass, a combination of ultra-thin flexible glass and thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer, transparent polyimide, and polyethylene terephthalate to obtain a rigid board 210 that meets the hardness requirements. In a specific setting, the material of the rigid board 210 can be glass, a combination of ultra-thin flexible glass and thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer, transparent polyimide, or polyethylene terephthalate. The material of the rigid board 210 can also be a combination of glass, ultra-thin flexible glass and thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer, transparent polyimide, and polyethylene terephthalate. Two, three, or four of these materials are combined into one by a connecting glue 230, and this connecting glue 230 can be OCR or OCA.

[0132] In one example, the flexible board 220 and the rigid board 210 are made of the same material, so as to facilitate the preparation of the cover 200, and require fewer types of materials, thereby reducing production costs. In addition, since the thickness of the material affects the hardness of the material, the thickness of the flexible board 220 is less than the thickness of the rigid board 210, so that the hardness of the flexible board 220 is less than that of the rigid board 210, and the hardness of the cover 200 can be controlled more conveniently by controlling the thickness of the flexible board 220 and the rigid board 210.

[0133] In one example, when the material of the flexible board 220 and the rigid board 210 is transparent polyimide or polyethylene terephthalate, the thickness of the flexible board 220 is 50um-60um. At this time, this thickness can ensure that the flexible board 220 has good bendability. In the specific setting, the thickness of the flexible board 220 is 50um, 51um, 52um, 53um, 54um, 55um, 56um, 57um, 58um, 59um or 60um. Of course, the thickness of the flexible board 220 is not limited to this, and can also be other values ​​within the range of 50um-60um. The thickness of the rigid board 210 is not less than 100um. At this time, this thickness can ensure that the rigid board 210 has good impact resistance. In specific configuration, the thickness of the rigid board 210 may be 100um, 110um, 120um, 130um, 140um, 150um, 160um, 170um, 180um, 190um or 200um. Of course, the thickness of the rigid board 210 is not limited thereto, and may also be other values ​​within the range of not less than 100um.

[0134] The specific configuration of the cover plate 200 is described by way of example. Figure 5 as well as Figure 6 The flexible board 220 includes a first board layer 221 and a second board layer 222, which are fixed together by a connecting glue 230, and the second board layer 222 is adhered to the inner display area 120 by an optical glue 400. The first board layer 221 can be transparent polyimide or polyethylene terephthalate, and the second board layer 222 can be ultra-thin flexible glass or transparent polyimide. Figure 5 The rigid plate 210 is a glass layer, and the glass layer is adhered to the outer display area 110 by an optical adhesive 400. Figure 6 The rigid plate 210 includes a UTG (ultra-thin flexible glass layer) layer and a TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer) layer. The UTG layer 213 and the TPU layer 214 are compounded into one and then the TPU layer 214 is adhered to the outer display area 110 through an optical adhesive 400. Experimental verification shows that both cover plates 200 can meet the requirements of the display panel 10 for impact resistance on the outer folding side, bendability on the inner folding side, and thin thickness.

[0135] In this way, by limiting the hardness of the rigid board 210 to not less than 110 GPA, it is easy to select the rigid board 210, so as to facilitate the preparation of the rigid board 210. At the same time, when selecting the flexible board 220, it is only necessary to limit the hardness of the flexible board 220 to be less than the hardness of the rigid board 210, so that it is more convenient to select the flexible board 220. In addition, the rigid board 210 with a hardness of not less than 110 GPA has a strong impact resistance, which ensures the product performance of the display panel 10.

[0136] Second, refer to Fig.10 An embodiment of the present application provides a display device 01, comprising a display panel 10 according to any embodiment of the first aspect.

[0137] The display device 01 may be a mobile or fixed terminal having a display panel 10 , such as a mobile phone, a television, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, an ultra-mobile personal computer (UMPC), a personal digital assistant (PDA), a navigation device, a smart watch, a virtual reality device, or the like.

[0138] The display device provided in the embodiment of the present application divides the flexible screen into an adjacent outer display area and an inner display area, and the rigid plate body of the limit cover is set in the outer display area, and the flexible plate body is bendable and set in the inner display area; so that the display panel can be unfolded by unfolding the folded inner display area and the flexible plate body. When the display panel is in the unfolded state, the flexible screen displays through the cover plate; when the display panel is in the folded state, the outer display area displays through the rigid plate body, and the outer display area resists external impact through the rigid plate body, thereby ensuring the impact resistance of the outer display area and improving the service life of the outer display area.

[0139] The technical features of the above-described embodiments may be arbitrarily combined. To make the description concise, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above-described embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.

[0140] The above-described embodiments only express several implementation methods of the present application, and the descriptions thereof are relatively specific and detailed, but they cannot be construed as limiting the scope of the patent application. It should be pointed out that, for a person of ordinary skill in the art, several variations and improvements can be made without departing from the concept of the present application, and these all belong to the protection scope of the present application. Therefore, the protection scope of the patent application shall be subject to the attached claims.

Claims

1. A display panel, characterized in that: include: A flexible screen, comprising an outer display area and an inner display area adjacent to each other; A cover plate, arranged on one side of the light emitting surface of the flexible screen; The cover plate includes a rigid plate body and a bendable flexible plate body, the flexible plate body is arranged in the inner display area, and the rigid plate body is arranged in the outer display area.

2. The display panel according to claim 1, characterized in that: The rigid plate covers the outer display area, and the flexible plate covers the inner display area; Preferably, when the display panel is in a folded state, along the light emitting direction of the display panel, the orthographic projection of the rigid board at least covers the end of the flexible board close to the rigid board; Preferably, when the display panel is in a folded state, the rigid plate body covers the end of the flexible plate body close to the outer display area; Preferably, when the display panel is in a folded state, along the light emitting direction of the display panel, the orthographic projection of the rigid board at least covers the bending area of ​​the flexible board.

3. The display panel according to claim 2, characterized in that: The rigid plate is a curved surface structure, including a first straight portion and a curved portion formed at one end of the first straight portion, the outer display area includes a first display area and a curved area formed at the end of the first display area, the first straight portion covers the first display area, and the curved portion covers the curved area; Preferably, the thickness of the curved portion is smaller than the thickness of the first straight portion; Preferably, the bending portion has a thinned area at a position opposite to the bending area, and the thinned area is used to accommodate the bending area; Preferably, the rigid plate has a smooth transition on a side away from the outer display area.

4. The display panel according to claim 2, characterized in that: The display panel further includes a middle frame, the middle frame is arranged on a side of the flexible screen away from the cover plate, the middle frame includes a first frame body, and the first frame body is arranged in a first bending space formed by the outer display area and the inner display area; Preferably, the first frame is filled in the first bending space; Preferably, the end of the first frame at least extends out of the first bending space; Preferably, the first frame is a wedge-shaped structure, and its size increases along a direction extending into the first bending space.

5. The display panel according to claim 4, characterized in that: The middle frame further includes a second frame body, which is bendably connected to the first frame body as a whole and is arranged on a side of the flexible screen away from the flexible board body; Preferably, the second frame and the first frame are connected via a rotating shaft; Preferably, a flexible connection portion is formed at one end of the second frame body close to the first frame body, and the flexible connection portion is bendable; Preferably, the second frame body cooperates with the first frame body to form a receiving cavity, and the flexible board body is received in the receiving cavity.

6. The display panel according to claim 1, characterized in that: The rigid plate body and the flexible plate body are arranged on the flexible screen at intervals; Preferably, the distance between the rigid plate and the flexible plate is greater than or equal to the maximum sliding amount of the end of the flexible plate close to the rigid plate when the display panel is unfolded; Preferably, the distance between the rigid plate body and the flexible plate body is 0.1 mm-0.5 mm; Preferably, the rigid plate and the flexible plate are attached to the flexible screen by optical adhesive; Preferably, when the display panel is unfolded, the rigid board body and the flexible board body are flush with the surface away from the flexible screen.

7. The display panel according to claim 6, characterized in that: A sealing structure is provided between the rigid plate body and the flexible plate body; Preferably, the sealing structure covers the gap between the rigid plate body and the flexible plate body; Preferably, the sealing structure extends to the surface of the rigid plate and the flexible plate away from the flexible screen; Preferably, part of the sealing structure is filled between the rigid plate body and the flexible plate body; Preferably, the sealing structure is located above the gap between the rigid plate body and the flexible plate body.

8. The display panel according to claim 7, characterized in that: The sealing structure connects the rigid plate body and the flexible plate body; Preferably, the hardness of the sealing structure is 10 MPa-1000 MPa; Preferably, the sealing structure is made of plastic or nylon; Preferably, the thickness of the sealing structure is within 1 mm.

9. The display panel according to claim 1, characterized in that: The hardness of the rigid plate is not less than 110GPA; Preferably, the material of the rigid plate is one or a combination of glass, a combination of ultra-thin flexible glass and thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer, transparent polyimide, and polyethylene terephthalate; Preferably, the flexible board and the rigid board are made of the same material, and the thickness of the flexible board is smaller than the thickness of the rigid board; Preferably, when the material of the flexible board and the rigid board is transparent polyimide or polyethylene terephthalate, the thickness of the flexible board is 50um-60um, and the thickness of the rigid board is not less than 100um.

10. A display device, characterized in that: Comprising a display panel as described in any one of claims 1 to 9.

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