Display module and display device thereof

Abstract

Embodiments of the present application provide a display module and a display device. The display module has a first area, a bending area and a second area connected in sequence along a first direction, and comprises a flexible display screen, a first support layer, a protective layer and a separation layer. The protective layer is arranged at least in the bending area and comprises a first protective part and a second protective part arranged continuously, the second protective part is protruded relative to the first protective part, a normal projection of the first protective part surrounds a normal projection of the second protective part, and the normal projection of the second protective part is at least partially located in the bending area. The separation layer is arranged on a side of the second protective part close to the flexible display screen, and the separation layer is arranged spaced apart from the first support layer. The second protective part of the protective layer is arranged spaced apart from the first support layer, and the separation layer is arranged in the first opening, so that the tangential force transmission between the protective layer and the first support layer in the bending process is effectively eliminated, the shear stress suffered by the flexible display screen is reduced, and the bending reliability and service life of the display module are improved.

Description

Technical Field

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

[0002] With the development of display technologies such as display panel manufacturing processes, people have put forward higher requirements for the performance and quality of display panels and devices.

[0003] Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) display technology is considered one of the most promising next-generation display technologies. Compared to liquid crystal displays, OLED technology offers advantages such as lower energy consumption, lower cost, self-emissiveness, wide viewing angles, and faster response times. Flexible display panels, in particular, are widely used in various fields due to their excellent bending properties, allowing them to bend or fold to varying degrees depending on the application conditions.

[0004] However, in related technologies, the bending area of ​​flexible display products is prone to screen failure due to stress on the back, resulting in low reliability. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In view of this, this application provides a display module and display device thereof to solve the problem of poor impact resistance in the bending area of ​​flexible display products in the prior art.

[0006] In a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide a display module having a first region, a bending region, and a second region sequentially connected along a first direction; the display module includes: a flexible display screen; a first support layer located on the backlight side of the flexible display screen; a protective layer disposed at least in the bending region and on the side of the first support layer away from the flexible display screen, the protective layer including a first protective portion and a second protective portion continuously disposed, the second protective portion protruding relative to the first protective portion in a direction away from the flexible display screen, a gap between the second protective portion and the first support layer in a direction perpendicular to the flexible display screen, and the orthographic projection of the first protective portion surrounding the orthographic projection of the second protective portion, the orthographic projection of the second protective portion being at least partially located in the bending region; and an isolation layer disposed on the side of the second protective portion near the flexible display screen, the isolation layer being spaced apart from the first support layer, the orthographic projection of the isolation layer being within the orthographic projection range of the second protective portion in a direction perpendicular to the flexible display screen.

[0007] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some possible implementations, the modulus of the isolation layer is less than the modulus of the first support layer.

[0008] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some possible implementations, the modulus of the isolation layer is less than 10 GPa.

[0009] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some possible implementations, the modulus of the isolation layer ranges from 4 GPa to 8 GPa.

[0010] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some possible implementations, the material of the insulating layer includes at least one of polyethylene terephthalate and polyimide.

[0011] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some possible implementations, the first support layer includes a plurality of through holes disposed in the bending area; the display module further includes a first adhesive layer disposed between the first support layer and the flexible display screen, the first adhesive layer including a first opening, and in a direction perpendicular to the flexible display screen, the orthographic projection of the through holes is located within the orthographic projection range of the first opening.

[0012] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some possible implementations, the display module further includes a plurality of first connecting portions disposed within the first opening of the first adhesive layer, wherein the distance between two adjacent first connecting portions is equal in the first direction.

[0013] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some possible implementations, the modulus of the first connecting portion increases sequentially in a direction parallel to the first direction and away from the center of the bending region.

[0014] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some possible implementations, the display module further includes a plurality of first connecting portions disposed within the first opening of the first adhesive layer. In the first direction, there is a first distance between two adjacent first connecting portions, and in a direction parallel to the first direction and away from the center of the bending area, the first distance decreases sequentially.

[0015] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some possible implementations, the modulus of the first connecting portion increases sequentially in a direction parallel to the first direction and away from the center of the bending region.

[0016] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some possible implementations, the display module further includes: a second support layer disposed between the first adhesive layer and the flexible display screen; a second adhesive layer disposed on the side of the second support layer near the flexible display screen, the second adhesive layer including a second opening, wherein the orthographic projection of the second opening is located within the orthographic projection range of the first opening in a direction perpendicular to the flexible display screen; and a plurality of second connecting portions, the plurality of second connecting portions being spaced apart within the second opening of the second adhesive layer, wherein the orthographic projections of the first connecting portions and the orthographic projections of the second connecting portions do not overlap in a direction perpendicular to the flexible display screen.

[0017] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some possible implementations, the modulus of the second connecting portion increases sequentially in a direction parallel to the first direction and away from the center of the bending region.

[0018] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some possible implementations, the first support layer includes a bent support portion and two non-bent support portions, the bent support portion being disposed in the bending region, one of the two non-bent portions being disposed in the first region, and the other of the two non-bent portions being disposed in the second region, wherein the modulus of the bent support portion is less than the modulus of the non-bent support portion.

[0019] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some possible implementations, the bending support portion includes a first bending support portion, a second bending support portion, and a third bending support portion connected sequentially along the first direction, wherein the modulus of the second bending support portion is less than the modulus of the first bending support portion and the third support portion.

[0020] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some possible implementations, the modulus of the first bending support is equal to the modulus of the third bending portion.

[0021] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some possible implementations, the through-hole includes a first portion and two second portions, wherein the first portion is located between the two second portions in a direction perpendicular to the flexible display screen, and the orthographic projection of the first portion is located within the orthographic projection range of the second portions.

[0022] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some possible implementations, the diameter of the through hole decreases sequentially in a direction parallel to the first direction and away from the center of the bending area.

[0023] Secondly, embodiments of this application provide a display device, including the display module provided in any embodiment of this application.

[0024] The beneficial effects of this application are as follows: The display module and display device provided in the embodiments of this application, by setting the protective layer to include a first protective part and a second protective part continuously arranged, and making the second protective part protrude relative to the first protective part in a direction away from the flexible display screen, so that there is a gap between the second protective part and the first support layer in a direction perpendicular to the flexible display screen, realizes the spaced arrangement of the second protective part and the first support layer; at the same time, the isolation layer is disposed on the side of the second protective part closer to the flexible display screen and spaced apart from the first support layer, and the orthographic projection of the isolation layer is located within the orthographic projection range of the second protective part. When the display module is bent, the protruding deformation of the first support layer in the bending area is blocked by the isolation layer, avoiding the first support layer and the second protective part from sticking together; at the same time, since there is always a gap between the second protective part and the first support layer, the second protective part will not mechanically constrain the bending deformation of the first support layer. Therefore, the embodiments of this application can eliminate the additional stress of the protective layer on the bending area while achieving the basic protection function of the protective layer for the support layer, so that the support layer maintains a natural bending shape, thereby reducing the tensile stress on the flexible display screen during bending and improving the bending reliability and service life of the folding screen in harsh environments such as low temperature. Attached Figure Description

[0025] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a display module in related technologies;

[0026] Figure 2 This is one of the structural schematic diagrams of a display module provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 3 This is a second schematic diagram of the structure of a display module provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 4 This is the third schematic diagram of the structure of a display module provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 5 This is the fourth schematic diagram of a display module provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 6 This is the fifth schematic diagram of the structure of a display module provided in the embodiments of this application; Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of a planar structure of a first support layer provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 8 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a first support layer provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 9 for Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the structure of the display module when it is bent; Figure 10 This is a plan view of a partial structure of a display module provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0027] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached drawings: 101, First area; 102, Bending area; 103, Second area; 11, Flexible display screen; 12, First support layer; 121, Through hole; 1211, First part; 1212, Second part; 122, Bending support part; 1221, First bending support part; 1222, Second bending support part; 1223, Third bending support part; 123, Non-bending support part; 13, Protective layer; 131, First protective part; 132, Second protective part; 133, Gap; 14, Isolation layer; 15, First adhesive layer; 151, First opening; 152, First connecting part; 16, Second support layer; 17, Second adhesive layer; 171, Second opening; 172, Second connecting part; X, First direction; Z, Second direction. Detailed Implementation

[0028] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application, the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art should fall within the protection scope of the embodiments of this application.

[0029] The terminology used in the embodiments of this application is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of this application. The singular forms “a,” “the,” and “the” used in the embodiments of this application and the appended claims are also intended to include the plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It should also be understood that the term “and / or” as used in the embodiments of this application refers to and includes any or all possible combinations of one or more associated listed items.

[0030] It should be understood that in the description of the embodiments of this application, the terms "length", "width", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing the scheme of the embodiments of this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on the embodiments of this application.

[0031] Furthermore, when an element or layer is referred to as being "on" another element or layer, "connected to," or "bonded to" another element or layer, the element or layer may be directly on the other element or layer, directly connected to, or directly bonded to the other element or layer, or there may be intermediate elements or layers. However, when an element or layer is referred to as being "directly on" another element or layer, "directly connected to," or "directly bonded to" another element or layer, there are no intermediate elements or layers.

[0032] The terms First, Second, etc., are used to describe various elements, components, regions, layers, and / or parts, but these elements, components, regions, layers, and / or parts should not be limited by these terms. These terms are used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer, and / or part from another element, component, region, layer, and / or part.

[0033] Unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "linking," and "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application according to the specific circumstances.

[0034] With the continuous development of display product manufacturing technology, people have put forward higher requirements for the performance and quality of display products. They hope that the manufactured display products will not only have good quality, but also good overall performance.

[0035] However, the inventors discovered the following problem in the related technology: during the bending process of the foldable display module, there is mechanical coupling between the layers of the structure in the bending area, leading to increased bending stress and affecting the reliability and lifespan of the flexible display screen. For example... Figure 1 As shown, Figure 1This is a schematic diagram of a display module in the related art. The display module includes a flexible display screen 11, a first support layer 12 disposed on the backlight side of the flexible display screen 11, and a protective layer 13 disposed on the side of the first support layer 12 away from the flexible display screen 11. The protective layer 13 is at least partially disposed in the bending region 102 of the first support layer 12. When the display module is bent, relative slippage occurs between the first support layer 12 and the protective layer 13. This relative slippage occurs because, in the bent state, the bending radius of the inner first support layer 12 is smaller than that of the outer protective layer 13, resulting in a difference in their bending arc lengths, thus creating a relative displacement trend along the interlayer interface. However, since the protective layer 13 and the first support layer 12 are bonded together, they cannot slide freely, thus generating a significant tangential force (i.e., shear force) at the bonding interface. This tangential force is transmitted to the flexible display screen 11 through the film layers above the first support layer 12, causing the flexible display screen 11 to bear additional shear stress during bending. At low temperatures, the modulus of the adhesive layer increases, and the tangential force further increases, which significantly increases the failure risk of the flexible display screen 11.

[0036] In view of this, embodiments of this application provide a display module, and Figure 1 Compared to the related technologies shown, this application constructs the protective layer 13 as a first protective part 131 and a second protective part 132 that are interconnected, and makes the second protective part 132 protrude relative to the first protective part 131 in a direction away from the flexible display screen 11, so that there is a gap 133 between the second protective part 132 and the first support layer 12 in a direction perpendicular to the flexible display screen 11, thereby achieving the spaced arrangement of the second protective part 132 and the first support layer 12. At the same time, the orthographic projection of the first protective part 131 surrounds the orthographic projection of the second protective part 132, and the orthographic projection of the isolation layer 14 is located within the orthographic projection range of the second protective part 132. As a result, a non-contact area is formed between the protective layer 13 and the first support layer 12 in the bending region 102, eliminating the adhesive interface, thereby avoiding the generation of tangential force and realizing the mechanical decoupling of the structure of each layer in the bending region 102.

[0037] Specifically, refer to Figure 2 and Figure 9 The first aspect of this embodiment provides a display module having a first region 101, a bending region 102, and a second region 103 connected sequentially along a first direction X. The first region 101 and the second region 103 can be used to set the main display area and the sub-display area of ​​the display module in its unfolded state, while the bending region 102 is a predetermined area for the display module to perform folding or bending actions.

[0038] In this embodiment, the display module includes a flexible display screen 11, a first support layer 12, a protective layer 13, and an isolation layer 14. The flexible display screen 11 is used to display images and can be a display panel with bendable characteristics, such as an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display panel or a micro-LED display panel. The first support layer 12 is disposed on the backlight side of the flexible display screen 11, that is, on the side of the flexible display screen 11 opposite to the light emission direction. The first support layer 12 provides mechanical support for the flexible display screen 11, and its portion located in the bending area 102 needs to be bent and deformed. The first support layer 12 can be made of metal materials with good mechanical strength and service life, such as stainless steel or titanium alloy.

[0039] A protective layer 13 is disposed at least in the bending area 102 and is located on the side of the first support layer 12 away from the flexible display screen 11. In other words, the protective layer 13 is attached to the back of the first support layer 12. The protective layer 13 includes a first protective portion 131 and a second protective portion 132 continuously disposed. The first protective portion 131 is bonded to the first support layer 12 to fix the protective layer 13 in the display module. The second protective portion 132 protrudes relative to the first protective portion 131 in a direction away from the flexible display screen 11, that is, the second protective portion 132 forms a downward protruding structure. In the direction perpendicular to the flexible display screen 11 (i.e., the second direction Z), there is a gap 133 between the second protective portion 132 and the first support layer 12, and the two do not contact each other. The orthographic projection of the first protective portion 131 surrounds the orthographic projection of the second protective portion 132, that is, the first protective portion 131 is attached to the first support layer 12 around the second protective portion 132. The orthographic projection of the second protective part 132 is at least partially located in the bending region 102, so that the second protective part 132 forms a partial coverage in the bending region 102.

[0040] The isolation layer 14 is disposed on the side of the second protective part 132 near the flexible display screen 11, that is, the isolation layer 14 is disposed on the surface of the second protective part 132 facing the first support layer 12. The isolation layer 14 and the first support layer 12 are spaced apart, maintaining a gap between them in the second direction Z, and do not contact each other. In the direction perpendicular to the flexible display screen 11, the orthographic projection of the isolation layer 14 is within the orthographic projection range of the second protective part 132, that is, the isolation layer 14 is completely covered by the second protective part 132.

[0041] In this embodiment, the protective layer 13 may include a Mylar sheet. Mylar sheets are thin films formed by heating dimethyl terephthalate and ethylene glycol under the assistance of a relevant catalyst, followed by transesterification and vacuum polycondensation, and biaxial stretching. Mylar sheets possess excellent tear resistance, temperature resistance, weather resistance, moisture and water resistance, chemical corrosion resistance, and superior electrical insulation properties. Therefore, in this embodiment, when the first support layer 12 is made of metal and the second support portion 102 includes a Mylar sheet, it not only ensures the folding function requirements but also reduces product weight, lowers signal shielding, and improves signal transmission capabilities. Furthermore, the Mylar sheet provides good buffering and heat dissipation, which helps improve the display quality of the foldable display panel.

[0042] In this embodiment, see Figure 10 , Figure 10 This is a planar schematic diagram of a partial structure of a display module provided in an embodiment of this application. Specifically, it includes a first support layer 12, a protective layer 13, and a spacer layer 14. The two dashed lines in the figure represent the second protective part 132 and the spacer layer 14, respectively. The dashed line indicating the second protective part 132 surrounds the dashed line indicating the spacer layer 14, i.e., in the second direction Z. The orthographic projection of the spacer layer 14 is located within the orthographic projection range of the second protective part 132. Since the orthographic projection of the first protective part 131 surrounds the orthographic projection of the second protective part 132, and the orthographic projection of the spacer layer 14 is located within the orthographic projection range of the second protective part 132, this embodiment can achieve the following beneficial effects: the first protective part 131 is attached to the first support layer 12 around the second protective part 132, forming a sealed space, which can prevent dust, moisture, and small foreign objects from entering the display panel through the through-hole 121, thereby avoiding the adverse effects of foreign objects on the display effect and bending reliability. Meanwhile, the isolation layer 14 is completely within the orthographic projection range of the second protective part 132, ensuring that the isolation layer 14 can be effectively covered and protected by the second protective part 132, avoiding peeling or displacement problems that may be caused by the exposed edges of the isolation layer 14.

[0043] The display module provided in this embodiment is constructed by forming a protective layer 13 as a continuously arranged first protective portion 131 and a second protective portion 132, with the second protective portion 132 protruding relative to the first protective portion 131 in a direction away from the flexible display screen 11. This creates a gap 133 between the second protective portion 132 and the first support layer 12 in a direction perpendicular to the flexible display screen 11, achieving an interval between the second protective portion 132 and the first support layer 12. Simultaneously, the orthographic projection of the first protective portion 131 surrounds the orthographic projection of the second protective portion 132, and the orthographic projection of the isolation layer 14 is located within the orthographic projection range of the second protective portion 132. Therefore, when the display module is bent, the first support layer 12 undergoes bending deformation in the bending area 102. Since the second protective portion 132 and the first support layer 12 do not contact each other, and the isolation layer 14 also does not contact the first support layer 12, neither the second protective portion 132 nor the isolation layer 14 exerts mechanical constraint on the bending deformation of the first support layer 12. Meanwhile, the isolation layer 14 can act as a barrier when the protrusion of the first support layer 12 deforms significantly, preventing the first support layer 12 from contacting the second protective part 132. Figure 1 Compared with the related technologies shown, in which the protective layer 13 is bonded to the first support layer 12 on the whole surface, this embodiment effectively eliminates the restriction of the protective layer 13 on the bending deformation of the first support layer 12, reduces the transmission of tangential force between layers during bending, thereby reducing the shear stress on the flexible display screen 11 during bending and improving the bending reliability and service life of the display module.

[0044] Furthermore, the modulus of the isolation layer 14 is less than that of the first support layer 12. Specifically, the first support layer 12 is made of a metallic material (such as stainless steel), whose Young's modulus is typically above 100 GPa. The isolation layer 14 is made of a polymer material, whose modulus is much smaller than that of the metallic material.

[0045] Optionally, the modulus of the isolation layer 14 is less than 10 GPa.

[0046] In a preferred embodiment, the modulus of the isolation layer 14 is in the range of 4 GPa to 8 GPa. Exemplarily, the modulus of the isolation layer 14 can be 4 GPa, 5 GPa, 6 GPa, 7 GPa, or 8 GPa. The material of the isolation layer 14 may include at least one of polyethylene terephthalate and polyimide. The typical modulus of polyethylene terephthalate is about 4 GPa to 6 GPa, and the typical modulus of polyimide is about 3 GPa to 8 GPa, both meeting the above-mentioned modulus range requirements.

[0047] In this embodiment, setting the modulus of the isolation layer 14 to be less than that of the first support layer 12 has the following beneficial effects: When the first support layer 12 undergoes convex deformation during bending and comes into contact with the isolation layer 14, due to the lower modulus of the isolation layer 14, the isolation layer 14 itself will preferentially compress and deform, providing clearance for the first support layer 12, without rigidly blocking the bending of the first support layer 12. Therefore, while achieving the function of "preventing the first support layer 12 from contacting the second protective part 132", the isolation layer 14 will not add additional bending resistance, ensuring that the first support layer 12 maintains a natural bending shape, further reducing stress transmission to the flexible display screen 11.

[0048] Please see Figure 3 In this embodiment, the first support layer 12 includes a plurality of through holes 121, which are disposed in the bending region 102. The through holes 121 can be circular, elliptical or rectangular, etc., and the plurality of through holes 121 are arranged in an array to reduce the local stiffness of the first support layer 12 in the bending region 102, making it easier to bend and deform.

[0049] In one specific embodiment, the bending area 102 of the first support layer 12 has a size ranging from 3 mm to 6 mm in the first direction X. For example, the size of the bending area 102 of the first support layer 12 in the first direction X can be 3 mm, 4 mm, 5 mm, or 6 mm. This size range is determined based on the overall size of the display module and a preset bending radius, ensuring that the bending area 102 has sufficient length to distribute bending stress while avoiding the impact of an excessively long bending area 102 on the overall layout of the display module.

[0050] The display module also includes a first adhesive layer 15, which is disposed between the first support layer 12 and the flexible display screen 11. The first adhesive layer 15 may specifically be an optically transparent adhesive layer or a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer, used to bond the first support layer 12 to the other layers above it. The first adhesive layer 15 includes a first opening 151, which is at least partially located in the bending region 102. In a direction perpendicular to the flexible display screen 11 (i.e., the second direction Z), the orthographic projection of the through-hole 121 lies within the orthographic projection area of ​​the first opening 151. In other words, the opening size of the first opening 151 is larger than the distribution area size of the through-holes 121, such that the vertical projections of all through-holes 121 fall within the area of ​​the first opening 151.

[0051] In one specific embodiment, the size of the first opening 151 in the first direction X ranges from 10 mm to 14 mm. For example, the size of the first opening 151 in the first direction X can be 10 mm, 11 mm, 12 mm, 13 mm, or 14 mm. This size range is larger than the size of the bending area 102 of the first support layer 12, ensuring that the first opening 151 can completely cover the bending area 102 of the first support layer 12.

[0052] A protective layer 13 is disposed on the side of the first support layer 12 away from the flexible display screen 11. In one specific embodiment, the size of the protective layer 13 in the first direction X ranges from 3 mm to 6 mm. Exemplarily, the size of the protective layer 13 in the first direction X can be 3 mm, 4 mm, 5 mm, or 6 mm. Its size range can be greater than or equal to the size range of the bending area 102 of the first support layer 12, so that the second protective portion 132 of the protective layer 13 can completely cover the bending area 102, thereby providing effective protection and acting as a barrier for the entire bending area 102 during bending.

[0053] In this embodiment, the through-hole 121 reduces the bending stiffness of the first support layer 12 in the bending region 102, making bending smoother. Simultaneously, the first opening 151 creates a broken adhesive area for the first adhesive layer 15 in the bending region 102, thereby cutting off the shear force transmission path of the first adhesive layer 15 in the bending region 102 and reducing the pulling force exerted by the first adhesive layer 15 on the upper film layer during bending. The orthographic projection of the through-hole 121 is located within the orthographic projection range of the first opening 151, ensuring that the first adhesive layer 15 does not cover the area of ​​the through-hole 121, thus avoiding the stiffness increase problem that might result from the material of the first adhesive layer 15 seeping into the through-hole 121.

[0054] Please see Figure 4 Based on the above embodiments, the display module in this embodiment further includes multiple first connecting portions 152, which are disposed within the first opening 151 of the first layer 15. Each first connecting portion 152 is a microstructure patterned from the first adhesive layer material within the first opening 151; that is, the first adhesive layer material is not completely removed from the first opening 151, but rather multiple spaced connecting portions are retained. In the first direction X, the distance between two adjacent first connecting portions 152 is equal. In other words, the multiple first connecting portions 152 are arranged at equal intervals along the first direction X, forming a periodic array structure.

[0055] Furthermore, in a direction parallel to the first direction X and away from the center of the bending region 102, the modulus of the first connecting portion 152 increases sequentially. In other words, from the center of the bending region 102 towards the edge, the stiffness of the first connecting portion 152 gradually increases, forming a gradient change.

[0056] For example, the modulus gradient can be achieved by adjusting the crosslinking density of the plurality of first connectors 152. Specifically, the first connectors 152 located in the central region of the bending region 102 are made of acrylic resin with low crosslinking density. From the center of the bending region 102 towards the edge, the crosslinking density of the acrylic resin gradually increases, so that the modulus of the plurality of first connectors 152 increases sequentially from the center of the bending region 102 towards the edge.

[0057] In this embodiment, the first connecting portion 152 enables the first adhesive layer 15 to achieve overall adhesive breakage in the bending area 102 while retaining local connection functionality through the first connecting portion 152. The evenly spaced first connecting portions 152 facilitate a uniform mechanical response. Furthermore, the gradient-increasing modulus design of the first connecting portions 152 ensures a smooth transition of stiffness from the center to the edge of the bending area 102, avoiding stress concentration caused by abrupt changes in stiffness and further optimizing stress distribution during bending.

[0058] Please see Figure 5 In other embodiments of this application, the display module further includes a plurality of second connecting portions 172 disposed within the first opening 151 of the first adhesive layer 15. In the first direction X, there is a first distance between adjacent first connecting portions 152. In a direction parallel to the first direction X and away from the center of the bending area 102, this first distance decreases sequentially. That is, from the center of the bending area 102 towards the edge, the spacing between the first connecting portions 152 gradually decreases, causing the distribution density of the first connecting portions 152 to gradually increase from the center to the edge.

[0059] Furthermore, in a direction parallel to the first direction X and away from the center of the bending region 102, the modulus of the first connecting portion 152 increases sequentially. That is, the stiffness of the first connecting portion 152 also gradually increases from the center to the edge.

[0060] For example, the modulus gradient can be achieved by adjusting the crosslinking density of the plurality of first connectors 152. Specifically, the first connectors 152 located in the central region of the bending region 102 are made of acrylic resin with low crosslinking density. From the center of the bending region 102 towards the edge, the crosslinking density of the acrylic resin gradually increases, so that the modulus of the plurality of first connectors 152 increases sequentially from the center of the bending region 102 towards the edge.

[0061] In this embodiment, by setting the spacing of the first connecting parts 152 to decrease from the center to the edge of the bending region 102, and combining this with a gradient increase in the modulus, fine control of the mechanical properties of the bending region 102 is achieved. The large spacing and low modulus of the connecting parts in the central region are beneficial for reducing the stiffness of the bending center region; the small spacing and high modulus of the connecting parts in the edge region are beneficial for ensuring a smooth transition with the non-bending region and avoiding stress concentration.

[0062] Please see Figure 6 In this embodiment, the display module further includes a second support layer 16 and a second adhesive layer 17. The second support layer 16 is disposed between the first adhesive layer 15 and the flexible display screen 11. The second support layer 16 may be a backplate, providing further support for the flexible display screen 11 and serving as an intermediate layer between the first adhesive layer 15 and the flexible display screen 11. The second adhesive layer 17 is disposed on the side of the second support layer 16 near the flexible display screen 11. The second adhesive layer 17 may be another optically transparent adhesive layer, used to bond the second support layer 16 to the flexible display screen 11. The second adhesive layer 17 includes a second opening 171 located in the bending region 102. In a direction perpendicular to the flexible display screen 11, the orthographic projection of the second opening 171 lies within the orthographic projection range of the first opening 151. In other words, the opening size of the second opening 171 is less than or equal to the opening size of the first opening 151.

[0063] The display module also includes a plurality of second connecting portions 172, which are spaced apart between the second adhesive layer 17 and the second support layer 16. Specifically, the second connecting portions 172 are disposed within the second opening 171 and are used to partially connect the second adhesive layer 17 and the second support layer 16. In the direction perpendicular to the flexible display screen 11, the orthographic projections of the second connecting portions 172 do not overlap. That is, the upper connecting portions and the lower connecting portions are staggered in the vertical direction, forming a non-aligned stacked structure.

[0064] Furthermore, in a direction parallel to the first direction X and away from the center of the bending region 102, the modulus of the second connecting portion 172 increases sequentially.

[0065] For example, the modulus gradient can be achieved by adjusting the crosslinking density of the plurality of second connectors 172. Specifically, the second connectors 172 located in the central region of the bending region 102 are made of acrylic resin with low crosslinking density. From the center of the bending region 102 towards the edge, the crosslinking density of the acrylic resin gradually increases, so that the modulus of the plurality of second connectors 172 increases sequentially from the center of the bending region 102 towards the edge.

[0066] This embodiment achieves multi-level mechanical decoupling by setting a first connecting part 152 and a second connecting part 172, and by staggering the first connecting part 152 and the second connecting part 172 in the vertical direction. The arrangement of the upper and lower connecting parts without overlapping in the vertical direction cuts off the vertical path of bending stress transmitted upward from the first support layer 12, further reducing the shear stress borne by the flexible display screen 11 during bending.

[0067] Please see Figure 7In this embodiment, the first support layer 12 includes a bent support portion 122 and two non-bent support portions 123. The bent support portion 122 is disposed in the bending region 102, and one of the two non-bent support portions 123 is disposed in the first region 101, and the other is disposed in the second region 103. The modulus of the bent support portion 122 is smaller than the modulus of the non-bent support portion 123.

[0068] Specifically, the bent support portion 122 and the non-bent support portion 123 can be made of the same material but with different heat treatment processes to achieve a difference in modulus, or they can be made of different materials. For example, the bent support portion 122 can be made of a metal material or a polymer material with a lower modulus, while the non-bent support portion 123 can be made of a metal material with a higher modulus.

[0069] Furthermore, the bending support portion 122 includes a first bending support portion 1221, a second bending support portion 1222, and a third bending support portion 1223 connected sequentially along the first direction X. The modulus of the second bending support portion 1222 is less than the modulus of the first bending support portion 1221 and the third bending support portion 1223. Preferably, the modulus of the first bending support portion 1221 is equal to the modulus of the third bending support portion 1223, forming a symmetrical modulus distribution.

[0070] In this embodiment, by setting the modulus of the bending support portion 122 of the first support layer 12 to be lower than that of the non-bending support portion 123, the bending stress in the bending area 102 of the first support layer 12 is reduced during bending. Simultaneously, the bending support portion 122 employs a further partitioning design, where the modulus of the second bending support portion 1222 is less than that of the first bending support portion 1221 and the third bending support portion 1223. By setting multiple bending supports, the second bending support portion 1222 generates the largest bending curvature during bending, becoming the main bending stress absorption area. The first bending support portion 1221 and the third bending support portion 1223 serve as stress transition areas, smoothly transferring the bending deformation generated by the second bending support portion 1222 to the non-bending area. This avoids abrupt changes in bending deformation at specific interfaces, achieving uniform distribution and effective buffering of bending stress, and improving the structural stability and reliability of the display module during repeated bending processes.

[0071] Please see Figure 8In this embodiment, the first support layer 12 includes a plurality of through holes 121. Each through hole 121 includes a first portion 1211 and two second portions 1212. In a direction perpendicular to the flexible display screen 11 (i.e., the second direction Z), the first portion 1211 is located between the two second portions 1212, and the orthographic projection of the first portion 1211 lies within the orthographic projection range of the second portions 1212. That is, the through hole 121 has a varying cross-sectional size along the second direction Z, with the diameter of the middle portion being smaller than the diameters of the two end portions, forming an hourglass-shaped cross-section.

[0072] By setting the through hole 121 to the above-mentioned hourglass-shaped cross-sectional structure, this embodiment has the following beneficial effects: First, when the first support layer 12 deforms during bending, the hourglass-shaped through hole 121 can distribute the bending stress more evenly on the curved surface of the hole wall, avoiding the problem of stress concentration at the edge of the hole in traditional straight-walled through holes, thereby improving the fatigue resistance of the first support layer 12 and extending the bending life of the display module.

[0073] Second, when the first support layer 12 is bent, the bending area 102 is subjected to compressive stress, and micro-protrusion deformation occurs in the area around the through hole 121. In related technologies, the stress concentration at the edge of the straight-walled through hole is obvious, and the micro-protrusion deformation is easily transmitted to the upper film layer, causing local unevenness in the bending area 102 of the flexible display screen 11, affecting the display effect. In this embodiment, by setting the through hole 121 as a variable cross-section structure, its upper flared end (second part 1212) provides a larger accommodating space, which can absorb the micro-protrusion deformation generated during bending, reduce the risk of the through hole 121 morphology transferring to the upper film layer, thereby improving the flatness of the flexible display screen 11 in the bending area 102.

[0074] Furthermore, in a direction parallel to the first direction X and away from the center of the bending region 102, the diameter of the through-hole 121 decreases sequentially. That is, from the center of the bending region 102 towards the edge, the diameter of the through-hole 121 gradually decreases. This gradient change in diameter allows the stiffness of the first support layer 12 in the bending region 102 to smoothly transition from the center to the edge: the central region has a large diameter and low stiffness, which is beneficial for bending deformation; the edge region has a small diameter and high stiffness, which is beneficial for connection with the rigid non-bending region. This design, combined with the gradient design of the adhesive layer connection in the aforementioned embodiment, forms a multi-level stiffness gradient from the support layer to the adhesive layer, further optimizing the bending performance.

[0075] The second aspect of this application discloses a display device comprising a display module according to any one of the embodiments of the first aspect described above.

[0076] Display devices can be mobile or fixed terminals with display panels, such as mobile phones, televisions, tablets, laptops, Ultra-Mobile Personal Computers (UMPCs), Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), navigation devices, smartwatches, and virtual reality devices.

[0077] The display device provided in this embodiment has the same technical effect as the display module provided in any embodiment of this application, namely, it eliminates the tangential force transmission between the protective layer and the support layer during bending, reduces the shear stress on the flexible display screen during bending, thereby improving the bending reliability and service life of the display device, especially the bending reliability in low temperature environments.

[0078] The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined in any way. For the sake of brevity, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above 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.

[0079] The embodiments described above are merely illustrative of several implementation methods of this application, and while the descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the patent application. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of this application, and these all fall within the protection scope of this application. Therefore, the protection scope of this patent application should be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A display module, characterized in that, It has a first zone, a bending zone, and a second zone that are sequentially connected along a first direction; The display module includes: Flexible display screen; The first support layer is located on the backlight side of the flexible display screen; A protective layer is provided at least in the bending area and on the side of the first support layer away from the flexible display screen. The protective layer includes a first protective portion and a second protective portion that are continuously disposed. The second protective portion protrudes relative to the first protective portion in a direction away from the flexible display screen. In a direction perpendicular to the flexible display screen, there is a gap between the second protective portion and the first support layer. The orthographic projection of the first protective portion surrounds the orthographic projection of the second protective portion. The orthographic projection of the second protective portion is at least partially located in the bending area. An isolation layer is disposed on the side of the second protective part near the flexible display screen. The isolation layer is spaced apart from the first support layer. In the direction perpendicular to the flexible display screen, the orthographic projection of the isolation layer is located within the orthographic projection range of the second protective part.

2. The display module according to claim 1, characterized in that, The modulus of the isolation layer is less than that of the first support layer; Preferably, the modulus of the isolation layer is less than 10 GPa; Preferably, the modulus of the isolation layer is in the range of 4 GPa to 8 GPa; Preferably, the material of the insulating layer includes at least one of polyethylene terephthalate and polyimide.

3. The display module according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first support layer includes a plurality of through holes, which are disposed in the bending area; The display module further includes a first adhesive layer disposed between the first support layer and the flexible display screen. The first adhesive layer includes a first opening, and in a direction perpendicular to the flexible display screen, the orthographic projection of the through hole is located within the orthographic projection range of the first opening.

4. The display module according to claim 3, characterized in that, The display module further includes a plurality of first connecting portions, which are disposed in the first opening of the first adhesive layer, and the distance between two adjacent first connecting portions is equal in the first direction; Preferably, the modulus of the first connecting portion increases sequentially in a direction parallel to the first direction and away from the center of the bending area.

5. The display module according to claim 3, characterized in that, The display module further includes a plurality of first connecting portions, which are disposed in the first opening of the first adhesive layer. In the first direction, there is a first distance between two adjacent first connecting portions. In a direction parallel to the first direction and away from the center of the bending area, the first distance decreases sequentially. Preferably, the modulus of the first connecting portion increases sequentially in a direction parallel to the first direction and away from the center of the bending area.

6. The display module according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that, The display module also includes: A second support layer is disposed between the first adhesive layer and the flexible display screen; A second adhesive layer is disposed on the side of the second support layer near the flexible display screen. The second adhesive layer includes a second opening, and in a direction perpendicular to the flexible display screen, the orthographic projection of the second opening is located within the orthographic projection range of the first opening. Multiple second connecting portions are spaced apart within the second opening of the second adhesive layer. In a direction perpendicular to the flexible display screen, the orthographic projections of the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion do not overlap. Preferably, the modulus of the second connecting portion increases sequentially in a direction parallel to the first direction and away from the center of the bending area.

7. The display module according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first support layer includes a bent support portion and two non-bent support portions. The bent support portion is disposed in the bending region, one of the two non-bent portions is disposed in the first region, and the other of the two non-bent portions is disposed in the second region. The modulus of the bent support portion is smaller than the modulus of the non-bent support portion. Preferably, the bending support portion includes a first bending support portion, a second bending support portion, and a third bending support portion connected sequentially along the first direction, wherein the modulus of the second bending support portion is less than the modulus of the first bending support portion and the third support portion; Preferably, the modulus of the first bending support portion is equal to the modulus of the third bending portion.

8. The display module according to claim 1, characterized in that, The through-hole includes a first part and two second parts. In a direction perpendicular to the flexible display screen, the first part is located between the two second parts, and the orthographic projection of the first part is located within the orthographic projection range of the second part.

9. The display module according to claim 1, characterized in that, In a direction parallel to the first direction and away from the center of the bending area, the diameter of the through hole decreases sequentially.

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

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