Display module and display device thereof

Abstract

The invention discloses a display module and a display device thereof, and the display module comprises a display panel which comprises a display area, a bending area and a binding area; the display panel is provided with an inner side face and an outer side face which are oppositely arranged in the thickness direction of the display panel. The protective layer is arranged on the outer side surface and comprises an adaptive part which is correspondingly connected to the bending area; the adaptive part comprises a first connecting section, a middle section and a second connecting section; the middle section is connected between the first connecting section and the second connecting section; the middle section covers the arc top sub-area of the bending area, and the thickness of the middle section is smaller than the thickness of the first connecting section and the thickness of the second connecting section. According to the display panel, the thickness of the middle section corresponding to the arc top sub-area is reduced, the size of the lower frame is reduced, meanwhile, the stress effect on the display panel can be reduced through the adaptation part, the risks of routing cracks or structural damage and the like caused by stress of the display panel are reduced, and therefore the structural reliability of the display panel is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of display technology, and in particular to a display module and display device thereof. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, to achieve a narrow bezel design, the bottom bezel of the display panel can be made using pad bending technology, which involves bending the bonding area of ​​the display panel to the back of the display panel and applying a protective adhesive layer to the bent area to alleviate and release the stress generated during the bending process.

[0003] In related technologies, to achieve a further narrowing of the bottom bezel, the bending radius of the bending area is reduced, or the horizontal dimension of the bending area is designed to be smaller than the vertical dimension, forming an elliptical bending structure. However, both of these narrowing design schemes, while achieving a narrowing of the bottom bezel, lead to a significant increase in bending stress, which in turn increases the risk of reliability failure. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This application provides a display module and display device thereof to at least partially solve the above-mentioned technical problems.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, according to a first aspect of this application, a display module is provided, comprising:

[0006] The display panel includes a display area, a bending area, and a bonding area, wherein the bending area is bent between the display area and the bonding area; the display panel has an inner side and an outer side that are disposed opposite to each other along the thickness direction of the display panel. A protective layer is provided on the outer surface, and the protective layer includes an adapter portion correspondingly connected to the bending area; The adapter includes: a first connecting segment, an intermediate segment, and a second connecting segment; The intermediate segment connects the first connecting segment and the second connecting segment; the intermediate segment covers the arc apex sub-region of the bending area, and the thickness of the intermediate segment is less than the thickness of the first connecting segment and the second connecting segment.

[0007] Optionally, in some embodiments of this application, the intermediate segment includes: The first sub-segment is connected to the first connecting segment; The second sub-segment is connected to the second connecting segment; The thickness of the first sub-segment increases towards the display area, and the thickness of the second sub-segment increases towards the binding area.

[0008] Optionally, in some embodiments of this application, the display panel further includes: The transition area is located between the bending area and the display area; The protective layer also includes: The first joint is connected to the transition region, and the first connecting segment is connected between the first sub-segment and the first joint. The second joint is connected to the binding area, and the second connecting segment is connected between the second sub-segment and the second joint. The rate of increase of the thickness of the first sub-segment is greater than the rate of increase of the thickness of the second sub-segment.

[0009] Optionally, in some embodiments of this application, the thickness of the first connecting segment increases in the direction away from the middle segment, and the thickness of the second connecting segment increases in the direction away from the middle segment.

[0010] Optionally, in some embodiments of this application, the display panel further includes: The transition area is located between the bending area and the display area; The protective layer also includes: The first joint is connected to the transition area, and the end of the first connecting segment away from the middle segment is connected to the first joint. The second connecting part is connected to the binding area, and the end of the second connecting segment away from the middle segment is connected to the second connecting part; The rate of increase of the thickness of the first connecting segment is greater than the rate of increase of the thickness of the second connecting segment.

[0011] Optionally, in some embodiments of this application, the thickness of the intermediate segment is uniformly set along the direction extending from the first connecting segment to the second connecting segment.

[0012] Optionally, in some embodiments of this application, the display panel further includes: The transition area is located between the bending area and the display area; The protective layer also includes: The first joint is connected to the transition area, and the end of the first connecting segment away from the middle segment is connected to the first joint. The display module also includes: A first back plate is disposed below the inner side of the display panel, where the display area and the transition area are located; Wherein, the orthographic projection of the first joint in the transition region overlaps with the orthographic projection of the first back plate in the transition region.

[0013] Optionally, in some embodiments of this application, the display panel further includes: The transition area is located between the bending area and the display area; The protective layer also includes: The first joint is connected to the transition area, and the end of the first connecting segment away from the middle segment is connected to the first joint. The display module also includes: A polarizing layer is disposed on the outer side of the display panel in the display area; Wherein, the end of the first joint portion away from the adapter portion is aligned with the edge of the polarizing layer, and the thickness of the first joint portion is greater than or equal to the thickness of the polarizing layer.

[0014] Optionally, in some embodiments of this application, the edge of the polarizing layer is provided with a first concave-convex structure; The first joint portion has a second concave-convex structure at one end away from the adapter portion, which engages with the first concave-convex structure.

[0015] According to a second aspect of this application, a display device is also provided, including the display module as described above.

[0016] In the display module of this application embodiment, the thickness of the middle section of the arc-shaped sub-area of ​​the bending area is reduced by covering the arc-shaped sub-area of ​​the bending area with the middle section being less than the thickness of the first connecting section and the second connecting section. This reduces the thickness of the middle section of the corresponding arc-shaped sub-area, thereby reducing the size of the lower bezel. At the same time, the bending stress of the adapter is reduced, thereby reducing the stiffness of the adapter. When the adapter bends synchronously with the deformation of the bending area, the adapter can reduce the stress on the display panel, reducing the risk of the display panel developing wiring cracks or structural damage due to stress, thereby improving the structural reliability of the display panel.

[0017] Other features and advantages of this application will be described in detail in the following detailed description section. Attached Figure Description

[0018] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0019] To gain a more complete understanding of this application and its beneficial effects, the following description will be provided in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein the same reference numerals in the following description denote the same parts.

[0020] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the display panel and protective layer in the display module provided in the exemplary embodiments of this disclosure; Figure 2 This is another structural schematic diagram of the display panel and protective layer in the display module provided in the exemplary embodiments of this disclosure; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the first bending structure of the display panel in the display module provided in the exemplary embodiments of this disclosure; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of a second bending structure of the display panel in the display module provided in an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the third bending structure of the display panel in the display module provided in the exemplary embodiments of this disclosure; Figure 6 This is another structural schematic diagram of the display panel and protective layer in the display module provided in the exemplary embodiments of this disclosure; Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the display panel and protective layer in the display module provided in the exemplary embodiment of this disclosure, in the unfolded state. Figure 8 This is another structural diagram of the display module provided in the exemplary embodiments of this disclosure, in which the display panel and protective layer are in an unfolded state; Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the display module provided in an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure; Figure 10 yes Figure 4 Enlarged view of section A; Figure 11 yes Figure 4 Enlarged view of section B.

[0021] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures: 100. Display module; 110. Display panel; M1. Inner side; M2. Outer side; 111. Display area; 112. Transition area; 113. Bending area; 113a. Arc apex sub-area; 113b. Beginning end; 113c. End end; C. Arc apex; 114. Binding area; S. Equidistant center plane; 110a, Flexible substrate; 110b, Wiring layer; 110c, Planarization layer; 120. Protective layer; 121. First joint; 121a. Second concave-convex structure; 122. Adaptor; 122a. First connecting segment; 122b. Second connecting segment; 122c. Intermediate segment; T1. First sub-segment; T2. Second sub-segment; 123. Second joint; 130. First back panel; 140. Second back panel; 150. Polarizing layer; 151. First uneven structure; 160. Heat dissipation buffer layer; 170. Reinforcing plate; 180. Glass cover plate; 190. Optical adhesive. Detailed Implementation

[0022] In the following detailed description, only certain embodiments of the invention are shown and described by way of simple illustration. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the embodiments described herein can be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

[0023] In the accompanying drawings, the thickness of layers, films, plates, regions, etc., may be exaggerated for clarity, better understanding, and ease of description. It should be understood that when an element such as a layer, film, region, or substrate is referred to as "located on another element," it may be located directly on the other element or there may be inserted elements.

[0024] Furthermore, unless explicitly stated otherwise, the word "including" and its variations such as "comprising" or "containing" will be understood to imply the inclusion of the discussed element, but not necessarily the exclusion of other elements. Further, in the specification, the phrase "on" means placed above or below the object part, and not necessarily on the upper side of the object part based on the direction of gravity.

[0025] It will be understood that although the terms “first,” “second,” etc., may be used in this document to describe various components, these components should not be limited by these terms. These terms are used only to distinguish one component from another.

[0026] As used in this article, the singular forms “one,” “a,” and “the” are also intended to include the plural forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0027] It will also be understood that the terms “comprising” and / or “including” as used herein specify the presence of the said feature or component, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features or components.

[0028] In related technologies, the display panel includes a display area, a bending area, and a bonding area, with the bending area located between the display area and the bonding area. To achieve a narrow bezel design, the bottom bezel of the display panel can employ pad bending technology, bending the bonding area of ​​the display panel to the back of the display panel, and applying a protective adhesive layer to the bending area of ​​the display panel to alleviate and release the stress generated during the bending process.

[0029] To achieve a further narrowing of the bottom bezel, one option is to reduce the bending radius of the bending area, or to design the lateral dimension of the bending area to be smaller than the longitudinal dimension, forming an elliptical bending structure. However, both of these narrowing design schemes, while achieving a narrower bottom bezel, lead to a significant increase in bending stress, which in turn increases the risk of reliability failure.

[0030] To solve the above technical problems, according to the first aspect of this application, with reference to Figure 1 and 2 This application provides a display module 100, which includes a display panel 110 and a protective layer 120.

[0031] The display panel 110 includes a display area 111, a bending area 113, and a binding area 114. The bending area 113 is bent between the display area 111 and the binding area 114. The display panel 110 has an inner side surface M1 and an outer side surface M2 that are disposed opposite to each other along the thickness direction of the display panel 110.

[0032] Specifically, the display area 111 refers to the part of the display panel 110 that displays the image; the transition area 112 and the bending area 113 are provided with connecting traces (such as fan-out traces) to connect the signal traces in the display area 111; the bending area 113 can be curved in an arc or an elliptical arc; the bonding area 114 is provided with bonding traces to connect the connecting traces in the bending area 113 and to bond with the driver chip or printed circuit board.

[0033] It should be noted that the display panel 110 as a whole can be configured as a flexible display panel 110; or, only the bending area 113 and the bonding area 114 can be configured as flexible; or, only the bending area 113 can be configured as flexible.

[0034] A protective layer 120 is provided on the outer surface M2, and the protective layer 120 includes an adapter 122 corresponding to the bending region 113.

[0035] Specifically, the protective layer 120 can cover the entire outer surface M2 of the bending region 113 to provide support and protection for the entire outer surface M2 of the bending region 113; alternatively, the protective layer 120 can also be located in a local area of ​​the outer surface M2 of the bending region 113. The protective layer 120 can protect and support the bending region 113, reduce the risk of damage to the bending region 113 under external forces, and provide a retaining force for the bending shape of the bending region 113 to reduce the risk of damage to the bending region 113 due to stress generated by bending.

[0036] The intermediate segment 122c is connected between the first connecting segment 122a and the second connecting segment 122b; the intermediate segment 122c covers the arc apex sub-region 113a of the bending region 113, and the thickness of the intermediate segment 122c is less than the thickness of the first connecting segment 122a and the second connecting segment 122b.

[0037] Specifically, refer to Figures 3 to 5 A virtual equidistant center plane S is established perpendicular to the thickness direction of the display area 111. The two ends of the bent region 113 (defined as the beginning 113b away from the binding region 114 and the end 113c near the binding region 114) are equidistant from this equidistant center plane S; the arc apex sub-region 113a can be the region containing the arc apex C of the bent region 113; refer to Figure 3 When the beginning end 113b and the end end 113c are aligned, the arc vertex C of the bending region 113 is located exactly on the equidistant center plane S, and the arc apex sub-region 113a is arranged symmetrically with respect to the equidistant center plane S. At this time, the center position of the arc apex sub-region 113a is taken as the arc vertex C.

[0038] However, due to fluctuations in the bending process, misalignment may occur between the beginning 113b and the end 113c. The specific amount of misalignment depends on the process capability. However, this may cause the arc apex to deviate from the equidistant center plane S, that is, the non-center position of the arc apex sub-region 113a becomes the arc apex C; see reference. Figure 4 If the starting end 113b is offset to the right relative to the ending end 113c, then the apex C of the curved region 113 will shift to above the equidistant center plane S; refer to Figure 5 If the starting end 113b is offset to the left relative to the ending end 113c, then the arc vertex C of the bending region 113 will shift to below the equidistant center plane S.

[0039] More specifically, refer to Figures 3 to 5 The offset of the arc vertex C relative to the equidistant center plane S is L, and the height of the beginning end 113b and the end end 113c along the direction perpendicular to the equidistant center plane S is H. The ratio of L to H ranges from 0 to 0.135. The ratio of the arc length of the arc vertex sub-region 113a to the overall arc length of the bending region 113 is from 0.3 to 0.7.

[0040] By adopting the above technical solution, the middle section 122c covers the arc-shaped sub-area 113a of the bending area 113, and the thickness of the middle section 122c is less than the thickness of the first connecting section 122a and the second connecting section 122b. This reduces the thickness of the middle section 122c corresponding to the arc-shaped sub-area 113a, thereby reducing the size of the lower bezel. At the same time, the bending stress of the adapter 122 is reduced, thereby reducing the stiffness of the adapter 122, which is the ability of the material to recover after bending. When the adapter 122 bends synchronously with the deformation of the bending area 113, the adapter 122 can reduce the stress on the display panel 110, reduce the risk of the display panel 110 developing wiring cracks or structural damage due to stress, thereby improving the structural reliability of the display panel 110.

[0041] In one example of this application, the display panel 110 includes a flexible OLED display panel 110, but is not limited thereto.

[0042] In one example of this application, when the display panel 110 is in the unfolded state, the arc-shaped sub-area 113a is located at the center of the bending area 113, and the distance between the arc-shaped sub-area 113a and the beginning end 113b is equal to the distance between the arc-shaped sub-area 113a and the end end 113c.

[0043] In some embodiments of this application, reference is made to Figure 1 The bending radius R1 of the bending area 113 ranges from 0.15mm to 0.5mm. More specifically, the bending radius R1 of the bending area 113 can be at least one of 0.15mm to 0.2mm, 0.2mm to 0.25mm, 0.25mm to 0.3mm, 0.3mm to 0.35mm, 0.35mm to 0.4mm, 0.4mm to 0.45mm, and 0.45mm to 0.5mm, and can be selected based on factors such as the specifications of the display module 100, the material properties of the bending area 113, and the stacking structure and thickness of the internal functional layers.

[0044] In some embodiments of this application, reference is made to Figure 6 The middle segment 122c includes: the first sub-segment T1 and the second sub-segment T2.

[0045] The first sub-segment T1 is connected to the first connecting segment 122a; the second sub-segment T2 is connected to the second connecting segment 122b; the thickness of the first sub-segment T1 increases towards the display area 111, and the thickness of the second sub-segment T2 increases towards the binding area 114.

[0046] It is understandable that the thickness of the first segment T1 has different sizes along its extension trajectory. At different trajectory points, the thickness of the first segment T1 can be the size along the normal direction of the bending region 113.

[0047] The thickness of the second sub-segment T2 varies along its extension trajectory. At different trajectory points, the thickness of the second sub-segment T2 can be the dimension along the normal direction of the bending region 113.

[0048] By adopting the above solution, the thickness design of the first segment T1 and the second segment T2 meets the thickness requirements of the middle segment 122c, while ensuring a smooth transition in the thickness of the adapter 122 at the middle segment 122c. This effectively reduces stress concentration at the connection point, thereby improving the overall structural stability of the adapter 122. When the display module 100 is bent, the adapter 122 can better adapt to the deformation generated during the bending process, avoiding excessive local stress on the display panel 110, further ensuring the reliability of the display panel 110 under bending conditions.

[0049] In some embodiments of this application, reference is made to Figure 2 The ratio of the minimum thickness Da of the intermediate section 122c to the thickness Db of the first connecting section 122a ranges from 0.4 to 0.8. The ratio of the minimum thickness Da of the intermediate section 122c to the thickness Dc of the second connecting section 122b ranges from 0.4 to 0.8. By limiting the ratio of the minimum thickness of the intermediate section 122c to the thicknesses of the first connecting section 122a and the second connecting section 122b to this range, the stiffness of the intermediate section 122c can be effectively reduced while ensuring that the adapter part 122 can maintain its regular shape, thus ensuring that the adapter part 122 has sufficient protective function.

[0050] More specifically, the ratio of the minimum thickness Da of the intermediate segment 122c to the thickness Db of the first connecting segment 122a can be at least one of 0.4 to 0.5, 0.5 to 0.6, 0.6 to 0.7, and 0.7 to 0.8; the ratio of the minimum thickness Da of the intermediate segment 122c to the thickness Dc of the second connecting segment 122b can be 0.4 to 0.8. The ratio can be flexibly selected based on the bending dimensions of the bending region 113, the material properties of the adapter 122, and the overall design requirements of the display panel 110. For example, the thickness of the first connecting segment 122a is 70 μm, the thickness of the second connecting segment 122b is 70 μm, and the minimum thickness of the intermediate segment 122c can be 40 μm, 50 μm, etc.

[0051] In some embodiments of this application, the protective layer 120 includes a UV-curable adhesive (UV adhesive).

[0052] It should be noted that the thickness gradient of the first sub-segment T1 and the second sub-segment T2 matches the bending curvature of the adapter 122 or the bending radius of the bending region 113, so that the stress changes uniformly; the uneven thickness design of the adapter 122 is not a deformation caused by bending, but is formed during the coating process of the protective layer 120, that is, during the coating stage, the minimum thickness of the middle segment 122c is less than the thickness of the first connecting segment 122a and the second connecting segment 122b, and the thickness of the first sub-segment T1 and the second sub-segment T2 changes in a gradient.

[0053] In some embodiments of this application, when the protective layer 120 is coated, the position corresponding to the arc vertex C after the bending area 113 is bent needs to be calculated. A protective material (i.e., UV curable adhesive) is coated on the outer surface of the bending area 113 on the side away from the display panel 110. After curing, the protective layer 120 is formed. Then the bending area 113 is bent to bend the bonding area 114 to the back of the display area 111.

[0054] In some embodiments of this application, because the UV-curable adhesive is applied in a fluid-like manner, the coating thickness of the protective material on the bending region 113 is less than the thickness of the adapter portion 122 in the cured protective layer 120. For example, if the minimum required thickness of the adapter portion 122 after curing is 50 μm, the minimum thickness of the protective material during actual application should be 40 μm. It should be noted that the actual thickness of the applied protective material can be adjusted in reverse based on the thickness of the cured UV adhesive.

[0055] In one example of this application, reference is made to Figure 7 In the unfolded state, the outer surfaces of the first segment T1 and the second segment T2 on the side away from the display panel 110 are respectively constructed as arc surfaces, and the ratio of the arc length to the radius R2 of the arc surface ranges from π / 4 to 3π / 4. With this arc surface design, when the display panel 110 and the protective layer 120 are bent, the arc surface structure allows the protective layer 120 to withstand more uniform tensile or compressive deformation during bending, further optimizing stress distribution and avoiding localized stress concentration caused by the irregular shape of the outer surface of the bending area 113. Furthermore, by limiting the ratio of the arc length to the radius R2 to the range of π / 4 to 3π / 4, the bending performance and structural strength of the adapter 122 are better met, satisfying both the stiffness requirements of the adapter 122 and ensuring its structural reliability.

[0056] It should be noted that the outer surface of the first sub-segment T1 and the second sub-segment T2 on the side away from the display panel 110 can be composed of a complete arc, or it can be a combination of multiple arcs.

[0057] In some embodiments of this application, reference is made toFigure 1 and Figure 2 The display panel 110 also includes a transition area 112. The transition area 112 is located between the bending area 113 and the display area 111. The transition area 112 is provided with connecting traces (e.g., fan-out traces).

[0058] In some embodiments of this application, reference is made to Figure 6 The protective layer 120 also includes a first joint 121 and a second joint 123.

[0059] The first joint 121 is connected to the transition region 112, and the first connecting segment 122a is connected between the first sub-segment T1 and the first joint 121; the second joint 123 is connected to the binding region 114, and the second connecting segment 122b is connected between the second sub-segment T2 and the second joint 123.

[0060] In this embodiment, since the thickness of the middle section 122c corresponding to the arc-top sub-region 113a is reduced, when the adapter 122 bends synchronously with the deformation of the bending region 113, the adapter 122 can reduce the force on the first joint 121 and the second joint 123, thereby reducing the effect of the first joint 121 on the transition region 112 and the effect of the second joint 123 on the bonding region 114, reducing the risk of trace cracks or structural damage to the transition region 112 and the bonding region 114 due to stress, thereby improving the structural reliability of the display panel 110.

[0061] In one example of this application, the thickness of the first connecting segment 122a is less than or equal to the thickness of the first joint 121, and the thickness of the second connecting segment 122b is less than or equal to the thickness of the second joint 123.

[0062] Verification has shown that reliability failures of the display panel 110 often occur in the transition region 112, such as cracks in the traces within the transition region 112 and encapsulation failures in the transition region 112. In some embodiments of this application, the thickness increment rate of the first segment T1 is greater than the thickness increment rate of the second segment T2.

[0063] It can be understood that the rate of increase in thickness can be the change in thickness per unit length, i.e., the slope of the thickness change curve. Since reliability failures of the display panel 110 often occur in the transition region 112, by limiting the first sub-segment T1 to have a higher rate of increase in thickness, it helps to enhance the rigidity of the first connecting segment 122a and the first joint 121, thereby reducing the stress transmission into the transition region 112 and thus reducing the risk of failure of the display panel 110 in the transition region 112.

[0064] In one example of this application, the thickness Db of the first connecting segment 122a is greater than the thickness Dc of the second connecting segment 122b. The thickness D1 of the first joint 121 is greater than the thickness D2 of the second joint 123.

[0065] In some embodiments of this application, reference is made to Figure 2 The thickness of the first connecting segment 122a increases in the direction away from the middle segment 122c, and the thickness of the second connecting segment 122b increases in the direction away from the middle segment 122c.

[0066] It is understood that the thickness of the first connecting segment 122a varies along its extension trajectory, and at different trajectory points, the thickness of the first connecting segment 122a can be the dimension normal to the bending region 113. Similarly, the thickness of the second connecting segment 122b varies along its extension trajectory, and at different trajectory points, the thickness of the second connecting segment 122b can be the dimension normal to the bending region 113.

[0067] By adopting the above solution and through the thickness design of the first connecting segment 122a and the second connecting segment 122b, the overall stress distribution of the adapter 122 can be further optimized, avoiding the generation of new stress concentration points at the connection between the first connecting segment 122a and the middle segment 122c, and at the connection between the second connecting segment 122b and the middle segment. This gradual thickness design allows the deformation of each part of the adapter 122 to transition more harmoniously during bending, effectively reducing the risk of structural damage caused by sudden stress changes.

[0068] It should be noted that the thickness design of the first connecting segment 122a and the second connecting segment 122b is also formed during the coating process of the protective layer 120, that is, the thickness gradient of the first connecting segment 122a and the second connecting segment 122b is changed during the coating stage.

[0069] In one example of this application, reference is made to Figure 8In the unfolded state, the outer surfaces of the first connecting segment 122a and the second connecting segment 122b on the side away from the display panel 110 are respectively constructed as arc surfaces, and the ratio of the arc length to the radius R3 of the arc surface ranges from π / 4 to 3π / 4. With this arc surface design, when the display panel 110 and the protective layer 120 are bent, the arc surface structure allows the protective layer 120 to withstand more uniform tensile or compressive deformation during bending, further optimizing stress distribution and avoiding localized stress concentration caused by the irregular shape of the outer surface of the bending area 113 on the side away from the display panel 110. Furthermore, by limiting the ratio of the arc length to the radius R3 to the range of π / 4 to 3π / 4, the bending performance and structural strength of the protective layer 120 can be well balanced, satisfying both the stiffness requirements of the protective layer 120 and ensuring its structural reliability.

[0070] It should be noted that the outer surface of the first connecting segment 122a and the second connecting segment 122b on the side away from the display panel 110 can be composed of a complete arc or a combination of multiple arcs.

[0071] In some embodiments of this application, the thickness of the intermediate segment 122c is uniformly distributed along the direction extending from the first connecting segment 122a to the second connecting segment 122b.

[0072] By adopting the above scheme, the uniform thickness of the middle section 122c can make the stress evenly distributed in the arc apex region 113a, so that the protective layer 120 provides a more flexible deformation space in the arc apex region 113a, which can alleviate the problem of increased stress in the arc apex region 113a caused by the thinning of the middle section 122c and avoid material fatigue or cracking caused by local stress concentration.

[0073] In one example of this application, reference is made to Figure 8 In the unfolded state, the outer surfaces of the first connecting segment 122a and the second connecting segment 122b on the side away from the display panel 110 are respectively constructed as arc surfaces, while the outer surface of the middle segment 122c on the side away from the display panel 110 is constructed as a flat plane. The connection between the middle segment 122c and the first connecting segment 122a is smoothly arranged, and the connection between the middle segment 122c and the second connecting segment 122b is also smoothly arranged.

[0074] It should be noted that, in one example of this application, the progressively increasing thickness design of the first connecting segment 122a and the second connecting segment 122b can be combined with the progressively increasing thickness design of the first sub-segment T1 and the second sub-segment T2 in the intermediate segment 122c. Alternatively, in another example of this application, the progressively increasing thickness design of the first connecting segment 122a and the second connecting segment 122b can also be combined with the uniform thickness setting of the intermediate segment 122c.

[0075] In some embodiments of this application, reference is made to Figure 2 The end of the first connecting segment 122a away from the middle segment 122c is connected to the first joint 121; the end of the second connecting segment 122b away from the middle segment 122c is connected to the second joint 123; the thickness of the first connecting segment 122a increases at a rate greater than the thickness of the second connecting segment 122b.

[0076] It is understandable that since reliability failures of the display panel 110 often occur in the transition region 112, by limiting the first connecting section 122a to have a high thickness increment rate, it helps to enhance the rigidity of the first joint 121, thereby reducing the stress transmission to the interior of the transition region 112, and thus reducing the risk of failure of the display panel 110 in the transition region 112.

[0077] In one example of this application, reference is made to Figure 2 The thickness D1 of the first joint 121 is greater than the thickness D2 of the second joint 123.

[0078] In some embodiments of this application, reference is made to Figure 9 The display module 100 also includes a first back plate 130. The first back plate 130 is located below the inner side surface M1 of the display panel 110 in the display area 111 and the transition area 112; the orthographic projection of the first joint portion 121 in the transition area 112 overlaps with the orthographic projection of the first back plate 130 in the transition area 112.

[0079] It is understandable that the placement of the first backplate 130 in the transition area 112 can provide additional structural support for the display panel 110 in the transition area 112.

[0080] By adopting the above solution, by limiting the projection relationship between the first joint 121 and the first back plate 130, by covering and protecting the display panel 110 with the protective layer 120, and by the structural support of the first back plate 130 in the transition area 112, it is possible to ensure a smooth curve transition of the display panel 110 at the junction of the bending area 113 and the transition area 112, thereby reducing the risk of the display panel 110 breaking at the edge of the first back plate 130.

[0081] In some embodiments of this application, reference is made to Figure 9 The display module 100 also includes a second back plate 140. The second back plate 140 is disposed on the inner side surface M1 of the display panel 110 in the bonding area 114; the orthographic projection of the second joint portion 123 in the bonding area 114 overlaps with the orthographic projection of the second back plate 140 in the bonding area 114.

[0082] It is understandable that the setting of the second backplate 140 in the bonding area 114 can provide additional structural support for the display panel 110 in the bonding area 114.

[0083] By adopting the above solution, by limiting the projection relationship between the second joint 123 and the second back plate 140, by covering and protecting the display panel 110 with the protective layer 120, and by the structural support of the second back plate 140 in the bonding area 114, it is possible to ensure a smooth curve transition of the display panel 110 at the junction of the bending area 113 and the bonding area 114, thereby reducing the risk of the display panel 110 breaking at the edge of the second back plate 140.

[0084] In some embodiments of this application, reference is made to Figure 9 The display module 100 also includes a polarizing layer 150. The polarizing layer 150 is disposed on the outer side M2 ​​of the display panel 110 in the display area 111, and the polarizing layer 150 can be bonded to the display panel 110; the end of the first bonding portion 121 away from the adapter portion 122 is connected to the edge of the polarizing layer 150, and the thickness of the first bonding portion 121 is greater than or equal to the thickness of the polarizing layer 150.

[0085] It should be noted that in related technologies, in order to achieve the narrow bezel design of the display module 100, it is necessary to reduce the bending radius of the bending area 113, or to design the lateral dimension of the bending area 113 to be smaller than the longitudinal dimension. Both of these will lead to a significant increase in bending stress, which will increase the risk of peeling at the joint boundary between the protective layer 120 and the polarizing layer 150, and affect the quality of the display panel 110.

[0086] In this embodiment of the application, by limiting the thickness of the adapter 122 to be less than the thickness of the first bonding portion 121, the bending stress of the adapter 122 is reduced, the adapter 122 can reduce the force exerted on the first bonding portion 121, thereby reducing the risk of the first bonding portion 121 peeling off from the polarizing layer 150 due to force, and ensuring the reliability of the connection between the first bonding portion 121 and the polarizing layer 150.

[0087] In one example of this application, the thickness of the first bonding portion 121 is greater than the thickness of the polarizing layer 150, which can maintain sufficient contact between the first bonding portion 121 and the polarizing layer 150 and improve the stability of the bonding interface between the first bonding portion 121 and the polarizing layer 150.

[0088] It should be noted that during the coating process of the protective layer 120, a protective film is attached to the side of the polarizing layer 150 away from the display panel 110. This protective film effectively prevents the material of the protective layer 120 from directly contacting the surface of the polarizing layer 150 during coating, preventing the polarizing layer 150 from being corroded by the solvent in the protective layer 120 material or from being scratched or contaminated by external forces, thereby ensuring that the optical performance of the polarizing layer 150 is not affected. After the coating and curing process of the protective layer 120 is completed, the protective film can be easily peeled off without leaving any adhesive layer or causing damage to the polarizing layer 150 and the surface of the formed protective layer 120, ensuring the stability of the subsequent assembly and display effect of the display module 100. More specifically, the thickness of the first bonding portion 121 is greater than or equal to the overall thickness of the polarizing layer 150 and the protective film.

[0089] In some embodiments of this application, reference is made to Figure 9 and Figure 10 The edge of the polarizing layer 150 is provided with a first concave-convex structure 151; the end of the first joint 121 away from the adapter 122 is provided with a second concave-convex structure 121a that engages with the first concave-convex structure 151.

[0090] By employing the above solution, the interlocking of the first concave-convex structure 151 and the second concave-convex structure 121a increases the contact area between the first joint 121 and the polarizing layer 150. This physical interlocking design means that the connection between the two no longer relies solely on the adhesive force between the interfaces, but rather further enhances the bonding strength through mechanical interlocking. When the display module 100 is affected by external impacts or temperature changes, the interlocking concave-convex structure can effectively disperse stress, avoiding interface separation caused by stress concentration. This further reduces the risk of peeling between the first joint 121 and the polarizing layer 150, ensuring the stability and durability of the connection between the polarizing layer 150 and the protective layer 120 during long-term use, thereby guaranteeing the overall optical performance and structural reliability of the display module 100.

[0091] In some specific embodiments, the first concave-convex structure 151 and the second concave-convex structure 121a can be configured as a matching sawtooth structure or a wavy structure, etc., to ensure that the stress is evenly distributed along the meshing interface during bending and to avoid peeling of the adhesive layer; it can effectively suppress the peeling of the bonding interface between the first bonding part 121 and the polarizing layer 150, thereby improving the reliability of the bonding interface.

[0092] It should be noted that before the protective layer 120 is coated, a first concave-convex structure 151 can be pre-set at the edge of the polarizing layer 150. Since the protective material of the protective layer 120 is applied in a fluid manner, it will naturally fill the gaps in the first concave-convex structure 151. After the protective material is cured, a second concave-convex structure 121a matching the first concave-convex structure 151 is formed at the interface between the protective layer 120 and the polarizing layer 150.

[0093] In some embodiments of this application, reference is made to Figure 9 and Figure 11 The display panel 110 includes a flexible substrate 110a, a wiring layer 110b, and a planarization layer 110c. The wiring layer 110b is located on the side of the flexible substrate 110a away from the inner side surface M1; the planarization layer 110c is disposed on the wiring layer 110b and is used to cover and protect the wiring layer 110b, while also being able to planarize the surface of the wiring layer 110b, providing a smooth base surface for subsequent application of other functional layers on the display panel 110; the protective layer 120 is attached to the side of the planarization layer 110c away from the inner side surface M1.

[0094] In this embodiment, by making the thickness of the adapter portion 122 smaller than the thickness of the first bonding portion 121, the rigidity of the adapter portion 122 can be reduced, thereby reducing the stress effect of the protective layer 120 on the planarization layer 110c and reducing the risk of the planarization layer 110c causing the encapsulation failure of the routing layer 110b.

[0095] In some specific embodiments, the material of the flexible substrate 110a includes at least one of acrylic resin, methacrylic resin, polyisoprene, vinyl resin, epoxy resin, polyurethane-based resin, cellulose resin, siloxane resin, polyimide-based resin, and polyamide-based resin.

[0096] In some embodiments of this application, reference is made to Figure 9 The display module 100 also includes a heat dissipation buffer layer 160 and a stiffener 170. The heat dissipation buffer layer 160 is located on the side of the first back plate 130 away from the display area 111, and plays a supporting and heat dissipation role in the display module 100. The stiffener 170 is located between the heat dissipation buffer layer 160 and the second back plate 140, which improves the overall structural strength and rigidity of the display module 100 and prevents the display module 100 from undergoing excessive deformation when subjected to external impact or bending. The stiffener 170, the heat dissipation buffer layer 160 and the second back plate 140 can be firmly bonded together by means of adhesive or other methods to form a stable support structure.

[0097] In one example of this application, the heat dissipation buffer layer 160 includes a super clean foam (SCF) structure, which, for example, sequentially comprises an adhesive layer, a foam layer, an organic material layer, and a metal layer. The adhesive layer, located near the second backplate 140, uses, for example, an embo adhesive. The foam layer provides light-shielding and cushioning functions, and the material can be foam. The organic material layer enhances structural strength and improves the reliability of the heat dissipation buffer layer 160; the material can be polyimide. The metal layer is used for heat dissipation, and the material can be copper foil.

[0098] In some embodiments of this application, reference is made to Figure 9 The glass cover 180 (CG, Cover Glass) and optical adhesive 190 (OCA, Optically Clear Adhesive) are provided on the side of the polarizing layer 150 away from the display panel 110, and the glass cover 180 is provided on the side of the optical adhesive 190 away from the polarizing layer 150.

[0099] According to a second aspect of this disclosure, a display device is provided, the display device including the display module 100 described above.

[0100] The display device provided in the embodiments of the present invention can be at least one of a smartphone, tablet computer, mobile phone, video phone, e-book reader, laptop PC, netbook computer, workstation, server, personal digital assistant, portable multimedia player, MP3 player, mobile medical device, camera, game console, digital camera, car navigation system, electronic billboard, ATM, smart bracelet, smartwatch, virtual reality (VR) device, or wearable device. The display module 100 has been described in detail in the above embodiments; therefore, further details about the display module 100 are not provided in the embodiments of the present invention.

[0101] In the above embodiments, the descriptions of each embodiment have different focuses. For parts not described in detail in a certain embodiment, please refer to the relevant descriptions in other embodiments.

[0102] The embodiments, implementation methods, and related technical features of this application can be combined and substituted for each other without conflict.

[0103] The above are merely preferred embodiments of this application and are not intended to limit this application in any way. Any simple modifications, equivalent changes, and alterations made to the above embodiments based on the technical essence of this application without departing from the scope of the technical solution of this application shall still fall within the scope of the technical solution of this application.

Claims

1. A display module, characterized in that, include: The display panel includes a display area, a bending area, and a bonding area, wherein the bending area is bent between the display area and the bonding area; the display panel has an inner side and an outer side that are disposed opposite to each other along the thickness direction of the display panel. A protective layer is provided on the outer surface, and the protective layer includes an adapter portion correspondingly connected to the bending area; The adapter includes: a first connecting segment, an intermediate segment, and a second connecting segment; The intermediate segment connects the first connecting segment and the second connecting segment; the intermediate segment covers the arc apex sub-region of the bending area, and the thickness of the intermediate segment is less than the thickness of the first connecting segment and the second connecting segment.

2. The display module according to claim 1, characterized in that, The intermediate segment includes: The first sub-segment is connected to the first connecting segment; The second sub-segment is connected to the second connecting segment; The thickness of the first sub-segment increases towards the display area, and the thickness of the second sub-segment increases towards the binding area.

3. The display module according to claim 2, characterized in that, The display panel also includes: The transition area is located between the bending area and the display area; The protective layer also includes: The first joint is connected to the transition region, and the first connecting segment is connected between the first sub-segment and the first joint. The second joint is connected to the binding area, and the second connecting segment is connected between the second sub-segment and the second joint. The rate of increase of the thickness of the first sub-segment is greater than the rate of increase of the thickness of the second sub-segment.

4. The display module according to claim 1, characterized in that, The thickness of the first connecting segment increases in the direction away from the middle segment, and the thickness of the second connecting segment also increases in the direction away from the middle segment.

5. The display module according to claim 4, characterized in that, The display panel also includes: The transition area is located between the bending area and the display area; The protective layer also includes: The first joint is connected to the transition area, and the end of the first connecting segment away from the middle segment is connected to the first joint. The second connecting part is connected to the binding area, and the end of the second connecting segment away from the middle segment is connected to the second connecting part; The rate of increase of the thickness of the first connecting segment is greater than the rate of increase of the thickness of the second connecting segment.

6. The display module according to claim 4, characterized in that, The thickness of the intermediate segment is uniformly set along the direction extending from the first connecting segment to the second connecting segment.

7. The display module according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The display panel also includes: The transition area is located between the bending area and the display area; The protective layer also includes: The first joint is connected to the transition area, and the end of the first connecting segment away from the middle segment is connected to the first joint. The display module also includes: A first back plate is disposed below the inner side of the display panel, where the display area and the transition area are located; Wherein, the orthographic projection of the first joint in the transition region overlaps with the orthographic projection of the first back plate in the transition region.

8. The display module according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The display panel also includes: The transition area is located between the bending area and the display area; The protective layer also includes: The first joint is connected to the transition area, and the end of the first connecting segment away from the middle segment is connected to the first joint. The display module also includes: A polarizing layer is disposed on the outer side of the display panel in the display area; Wherein, the end of the first joint portion away from the adapter portion is aligned with the edge of the polarizing layer, and the thickness of the first joint portion is greater than or equal to the thickness of the polarizing layer.

9. The display module according to claim 8, characterized in that, The edge of the polarizing layer is provided with a first concave-convex structure; The first joint portion has a second concave-convex structure at one end away from the adapter portion, which engages with the first concave-convex structure.

10. A display device, characterized in that, Includes the display module as described in any one of claims 1 to 9.

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