Display module and display device

Abstract

The application relates to a display module and a display device, the display module is applied to the display device and is used for presenting image information, and the display module comprises a display panel, two support layers and a support support. The display panel can be flexibly deformed, the display panel comprises a first non-bending area, a bending area and a second non-bending area which are sequentially arranged along a first direction; the two support layers are arranged at intervals along the first direction and are respectively supported on the first non-bending area and the second non-bending area of the display panel, and the two support layers are located on the backlight side of the display panel; the support support can be elastically deformed, the support support is arranged on the backlight side of the display panel, the support support comprises a first support part, a second support part and a third support part which are sequentially arranged along the first direction, the first support part and the third support part are respectively abutted on one side of the two support layers away from the display panel, and the second support part is abutted on the bending area of the display panel, and the second support part is in close contact with the bending area.

Description

Technical Field

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

[0002] Flexible organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays are flexible and foldable, making them suitable for use in foldable phones. By folding, a large screen area can be stored, thus meeting users' requirements for large screens and portability.

[0003] However, in related technologies, the layers of the display module are stacked in a conventional manner, and the entire device is assembled by combining composite foam on the back of the screen with the mid-frame of the whole unit. When the whole unit is in use, the screen in the module is restricted from bending. The screen recovers through the super elasticity of materials such as foam or optical adhesive, thereby absorbing the stress generated by bending. At the same time, during bending, because the display module is formed by bonding individual foam or optical adhesive units one on each side, repeated bending can cause elastic fatigue damage to the foam or optical adhesive, resulting in wrinkles and other defects on the screen, affecting the aesthetics of the whole unit. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Therefore, it is necessary to provide a display module and display device to address the technical problems such as screen wrinkles that easily occur after long-term bending of the display module structure in related technologies.

[0005] A display module, used in a display device, for displaying image information, the display module comprising:

[0006] The display panel is flexibly deformable and extends along a first direction and a second direction. The display panel includes a first non-bending area, a bending area and a second non-bending area arranged sequentially along the first direction. The first non-bending area and the second non-bending area can be folded or unfolded around the bending area.

[0007] Two support layers are provided, spaced apart along the first direction, and respectively support the first non-bending area and the second non-bending area of ​​the display panel. Both support layers are located on the backlight side of the display panel.

[0008] A support bracket is provided, which is elastically deformable. The support bracket is disposed on the backlight side of the display panel. The support bracket includes a first support portion, a second support portion and a third support portion arranged sequentially along a first direction. The first support portion and the third support portion abut against the side of the two support layers away from the display panel and are located at the ends of the two support layers that are close to each other. The second support portion abuts against the bending area of ​​the display panel and is in contact with the bending area.

[0009] The first direction and the second direction are perpendicular, and the first support portion, the second support portion and the third support portion all extend along the second direction.

[0010] In one embodiment, the support bracket further includes a first connecting portion and a second connecting portion spaced apart along the first direction;

[0011] The first connecting portion and the second connecting portion extend along the second direction, and the stacking direction of the display panel and the support layer is defined as the third direction. The two ends of the first connecting portion along the third direction are respectively connected to the first support portion and the second support portion, and the two ends of the second connecting portion along the third direction are respectively connected to the second support portion and the third support portion.

[0012] In one embodiment, the first connecting portion, the second supporting portion, and the second connecting portion together define a clearance groove, the clearance groove extends along the second direction, the opening of the clearance groove faces away from the display panel, and the clearance groove is used to accommodate the hinge shaft of the display device.

[0013] In one embodiment, a first gap is formed between the first connecting portion and the end of the support layer near the first connecting portion, and a second gap is formed between the second connecting portion and the support layer near the second connecting portion. The widths D1 of the first gap and D2 of the second gap satisfy the condition:

[0014] 0.1mm≤D1≤0.2mm, 0.1mm≤D2≤0.2mm.

[0015] In one embodiment, the side of the first support portion and the third support portion away from the support layer are both connected to the middle frame of the display device. One of the first support portion and the middle frame is provided with a first limiting groove, and the other is provided with a first limiting protrusion. The first limiting protrusion is provided in the first limiting groove.

[0016] One of the third support portion and the middle frame is provided with a second limiting groove, and the other is provided with a second limiting protrusion, the second limiting protrusion being disposed within the second limiting groove;

[0017] The first limiting groove, the first limiting protrusion, the second limiting groove, and the second limiting protrusion all extend along the second direction;

[0018] Preferably, the width of the first limiting groove and the second limiting groove gradually decreases from the bottom of the groove to the opening of the groove, and the shape of the first limiting protrusion and the second limiting protrusion is adapted to the shape of the first limiting groove and the second limiting groove.

[0019] In one embodiment, the first limiting protrusion is disposed on the first support portion, and there are two first limiting protrusions. The two first limiting protrusions are spaced apart along a first direction. The first limiting groove is disposed on the middle frame, and the number of the first limiting grooves corresponds to the number of the first limiting protrusions.

[0020] The second limiting protrusion is provided on the third support part, and there are two second limiting protrusions. The two second limiting protrusions are arranged at intervals along the first direction, and the second limiting groove is provided on the middle frame.

[0021] In one embodiment, a first assembly gap, denoted by H1, is formed between the first limiting groove and the first limiting protrusion in the third direction, and a second assembly gap, denoted by H2, is formed between the second limiting groove and the second limiting protrusion in the third direction.

[0022] The first single-sided gap between the first limiting groove and the first limiting protrusion in the first direction is d1, and the second unit gap between the second limiting groove and the second limiting protrusion in the first direction is d2; the first assembly gap H1, the second assembly gap H2, the first single-sided gap d1, and the second single-sided gap d2 satisfy the following conditions:

[0023] 0.1mm≤H1≤0.2mm, 0.1mm≤H2≤0.2mm; 0.1mm≤d1≤0.2mm, 0.1mm≤d2≤0.2mm.

[0024] In one embodiment, the first support portion, the second support portion, and the third support portion are integrally formed to construct the support bracket.

[0025] In one embodiment, the elastic modulus of the support bracket is greater than that of the display panel;

[0026] Preferably, the elastic modulus of the support bracket at a tensile rate of 30 mm / min is greater than 4 GPa. A display device includes a display module as described above, and further includes two spaced-apart buffer layers and a middle frame, wherein the two buffer layers correspond to the two support layers, and the buffer layers are disposed between the support layers and the middle frame.

[0027] Preferably, the support bracket has a third gap D3 between each end of the support bracket along the first direction and the ends of the two buffer layers, and the third gap D3 satisfies the following condition:

[0028] 0.3mm≤D3≤0.5mm.

[0029] The beneficial effects of this invention are:

[0030] This invention provides a display module applied in a display device. The display module can display images, text, videos, and other content, thereby achieving information visualization. The display panel is flexibly deformable, allowing it to bend, fold, or stretch along supporting layers to adapt to shape changes. The display panel extends along a first direction and a second direction to form a planar structure. The display panel is configured to include a first non-bending area, a bending area, and a second non-bending area sequentially arranged along the first direction, allowing the first and second non-bending areas to operably rotate around the bending area, thereby achieving relative folding or unfolding of the first and second non-bending areas. By providing supporting layers in the first and second non-bending areas, and placing two supporting layers respectively in the first and second non-bending areas, the supporting layers support the first and second non-bending areas, preventing them from collapsing when the user presses the display panel during use, thus affecting the user experience.

[0031] By setting up a support bracket, with the first and third support parts respectively abutting against the two support layers on the side away from the display panel, the support layers and the middle frame limit the first and third support parts after the display module is assembled with the middle frame, thereby limiting the entire support bracket. By abutting the second support part against the bending area of ​​the display panel, support force is provided to the bending area. When the display panel bends, the second support part can support and fix the bending area. When the display panel unfolds, the flatness of the bending area is ensured by the support force of the second support part. In addition, because the second support part can support the bending area, and the support bracket itself can elastically deform to further enhance the elastic recovery ability of the bending area, the fatigue strength during repeated folding and unfolding of the display module is improved, thereby increasing the service life of the display module and avoiding the risk of wrinkles during unfolding. Attached Figure Description

[0032] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the display module and the middle frame after connection according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view of the display module and the middle frame after they are connected, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a display module provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0035] Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional view of the display module connected to the middle frame, according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0036] Figure 5 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a support bracket in a display module provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0037] Figure 6 This is an enlarged schematic diagram of the connection between the support bracket and the middle frame in a display module provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0038] Figure label:

[0039] 100. Display module; 110. Display panel; 111. First non-bending area; 112. Bending area; 113. Second non-bending area; 120. Support layer; 130. Support bracket; 131. First support part; 1311. First limiting protrusion; 132. Second support part; 133. Third support part; 1331. Second limiting protrusion; 134. First connecting part; 135. Second connecting part; 140. Buffer layer; 200. Middle frame; 300. Hinge pivot. Detailed Implementation

[0040] To make the above-mentioned objects, features, and advantages of the present invention more apparent and understandable, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Many specific details are set forth in the following description to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, the present invention can be practiced in many other ways different from those described herein, and those skilled in the art can make similar modifications without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below.

[0041] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the terms "center," "longitudinal," "lateral," "length," "width," "thickness," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "clockwise," "counterclockwise," "axial," "radial," and "circumferential" indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for the convenience of describing this invention 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 this invention.

[0042] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature. In the description of this invention, "a plurality of" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0043] In this invention, unless otherwise explicitly 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, unless otherwise explicitly limited. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention according to the specific circumstances.

[0044] In this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can mean that the first feature is in direct contact with the second feature, or that the first feature is in indirect contact with the second feature through an intermediate medium. Furthermore, "above," "over," and "on top" of the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0045] It should be noted that when an element is referred to as being "fixed to" or "set on" another element, it can be directly on the other element or there may be an intervening element. When an element is considered to be "connected to" another element, it can be directly connected to the other element or there may be an intervening element. The terms "vertical," "horizontal," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," and similar expressions used herein are for illustrative purposes only and do not represent the only possible implementation.

[0046] Flexible organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays are flexible and foldable, making them suitable for use in foldable phones. By folding, a large screen area can be stored, thus meeting users' requirements for large screens and portability.

[0047] As mentioned in the background section, in related technologies, the layers of the display module are stacked in a conventional manner, and the entire unit is assembled by combining composite foam on the back of the screen with the mid-frame of the device. When the device is in use, the screen in the module is restricted from bending. The screen recovers through the superelasticity of materials such as foam or optical adhesive, thereby absorbing the stress generated by bending. However, during bending, because the display module is formed by bonding individual units of foam or optical adhesive, repeated bending can cause elastic fatigue damage to the foam or optical adhesive, resulting in wrinkles and other defects on the screen, affecting the overall aesthetics of the device.

[0048] To address the aforementioned technical issues, this application provides a display module and a display device. By providing a support bracket and supporting the first and second support portions of the bracket on the first and second non-bending areas of the display panel, the support layer and the mid-frame fix the support bracket. By supporting the second support portion on the bending area, the bending area is supported by the second support portion, and the support bracket itself can elastically deform to provide secondary elastic recovery of the strongly bent area. This enhances the fatigue resistance of the display module during repeated folding and unfolding, thereby improving the lifespan of the display module and avoiding the risk of wrinkles during unfolding.

[0049] The specific structure of the display module is described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of the structure of the display module after it is connected to the middle frame in one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view of the display module and the middle frame provided in an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 A cross-sectional schematic diagram of a display module provided in an embodiment of the present invention is shown; Figure 4This diagram shows a cross-sectional view of the display module connected to the mid-frame according to another embodiment of the present invention. Figure 5 A cross-sectional schematic diagram of a support bracket in a display module provided according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown; Figure 6 An enlarged schematic diagram of the connection between the support bracket and the middle frame in a display module provided by an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0050] Please combine Figures 1 to 6 In a first aspect, the present application provides a display module 100 applied in a display device for presenting image information. The display module 100 includes: a display panel 110, two support layers 120 and a support bracket 130.

[0051] Figure 3 As shown, the display panel 110 is flexibly deformable and extends along a first direction and a second direction. The display panel 110 includes a first non-bending area 111, a bending area 112 and a second non-bending area 113 arranged sequentially along the first direction. The first non-bending area 111 and the second non-bending area 113 can be folded or unfolded around the bending area 112.

[0052] In at least one embodiment of this application, the display panel 110 may be a flexible display panel 110. For example, the display panel 110 may be a flexible organic light-emitting semiconductor (OLED) screen.

[0053] The display panel 110 includes a display substrate, a driving substrate, a display device, and an encapsulation layer. The display device is disposed on the driving substrate, which inputs driving current to the display device to control its light emission. The encapsulation layer encapsulates the display device to protect the light-emitting material within it. Specifically, the display device may include a first electrode, a second electrode, and an organic light-emitting layer, with the organic light-emitting layer located between the first and second electrodes. One of the first and second electrodes can be a cathode, and the other can be an anode. The polarity of the first and second electrodes is determined according to requirements and is not limited here. The organic light-emitting layer, located between the cathode and anode, allows electrons injected from the cathode and holes injected from the anode to combine in the organic light-emitting layer to form excitons. When these excitons release energy, they emit light, thus realizing the display function of the display panel 110.

[0054] In some embodiments, the first non-bending region 111 and the second non-bending region 113 are symmetrically arranged along the center line of the display panel 110 in the first direction. It is understood that the center line of the display panel 110 in the first direction coincides with the center line of the bending region 112 in the first direction. The symmetrical arrangement of the first non-bending region 111 and the second non-bending region 113 has two advantages: firstly, after folding the first non-bending region 111 and the second non-bending region 113 relative to each other, the overall size of the display device is more compact; secondly, the symmetrical arrangement ensures that the stress on the bending region 112 is more uniform after folding the first non-bending region 111 and the second non-bending region 113 relative to each other, thereby making the display module 100 less prone to damage. Furthermore, the relative folding of the two regions makes the display device more aesthetically pleasing.

[0055] It should be noted that in this application, the first direction refers to the folding direction of the display panel 110, or it can be considered as the length direction of the display module 100, such as... Figure 1 The X direction is shown; the second direction is the Y direction of the display panel 110, as shown. Figure 1 The front-back direction shown is the direction perpendicular to the paper surface; the third direction is the thickness direction of the display panel 110, such as... Figure 1 The Z direction is shown.

[0056] Two support layers 120 are spaced apart along a first direction and respectively support the first non-bending area 111 and the second non-bending area 113 of the display panel 110. Both support layers 120 are located on the backlight side of the display panel 110. By providing support layers 120 on the backlight side corresponding to the first non-bending area 111 and the second non-bending area 113, the first non-bending area 111 and the second non-bending area 113 are fixed and supported, thereby improving the rigidity of the first non-bending area 111 and the second non-bending area 113. This ensures that when used in a practical display device, the support layers 120 can support the first non-bending area 111 and the second non-bending area 113 when forces are applied to the display panel 110, thus preventing the display panel from bending or wrinkling and affecting the user experience.

[0057] In this embodiment, the support layer 120 is made of stainless steel. Stainless steel is a high-modulus material that is not easily deformed under stress, ensuring the bending shape of the display module 100 and providing structural reinforcement. Of course, in other embodiments, the support layer 120 can also be made of other rigid materials that are not easily deformed. Specifically, the two support layers 120 are bonded to the backlight surfaces of the first non-bending area 111 and the second non-bending area 113, respectively, by adhesive bonding. More specifically, the display substrates corresponding to the first non-bending area 111 and the second non-bending area 113 of the display panel 110 are bonded to the PI film layer by a first adhesive layer, and the support layer 120 is bonded to the PI film by a second adhesive layer. This arrangement allows a PI film layer to be placed between the support layer 120 and the display substrate of the display panel 110. The PI film layer, as the core substrate material of the flexible OLED screen, replaces the traditional glass substrate and supports the foldable and rollable display shape. The stainless steel support layer 120 is used to improve the mechanical properties of the flexible display module 100.

[0058] like Figure 2 , Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, in this embodiment, the support bracket 130 is elastically deformable. The support bracket 130 is disposed on the backlight side of the display panel 110. The support bracket 130 includes a first support portion 131, a second support portion 132, and a third support portion 133 arranged sequentially along a first direction. The first support portion 131 and the third support portion 133 respectively abut against the side of the two support layers 120 away from the display panel 110 and are located at the ends of the two support layers 120 that are close to each other. The second support portion 132 abuts against the bending area 112 of the display panel 110 and is in close contact with the bending area 112. The first direction and the second direction are perpendicular, and the first support portion 131, the second support portion 132, and the third support portion 133 all extend along the second direction.

[0059] Since the bending area 112 of the display panel 110 needs to be folded repeatedly, it needs to have both high flexibility and good rigidity to support the bending area 112. Therefore, in this embodiment, a support bracket 130 is provided in the bending area 112 to improve the problem of creases appearing in the bending area 112 of the display module 100 due to insufficient support.

[0060] Specifically, the support bracket 130 is made of a bendable polymer (e.g., polyethylene terephthalate, abbreviated as PET). In another embodiment, the materials of the first support portion 131, the second support portion 132, and the third support portion 133 can be set to different forms according to the rigidity and elasticity requirements of different parts of the support bracket 130. Since the first support portion 131 and the third support portion 133 are mainly used to connect the support bracket 130 with the support layer 120 and the middle frame 200, the first support portion 131 and the third support portion 133 can be made of a material with greater rigidity than the second support portion 132 to ensure the reliability of the connection between the support bracket 130 and the middle frame 200 and the support layer 120.

[0061] In this embodiment, the second support portion 132 is located at the position corresponding to the bending area 112 of the display panel 110. A PI film layer is provided between the second support portion 132 and the bending area 112 of the display panel. An adhesive layer is provided on both sides of the PI film layer. One side of the PI film layer is bonded to the display panel 110, and the other side is bonded to the second support portion 132 of the support bracket 130.

[0062] In this embodiment, the support bracket 130 is elastically deformable, so that when the first non-bending area 111 and the second non-bending area 113 of the display panel 110 rotate around the bending area 112 and fold towards each other, the bending area 112 undergoes bending deformation. At this time, the second support portion 132 of the support bracket 130 bends and deforms along with the bending area 112, and supports the bending area 112. When the first non-bending area 111 and the second non-bending area 113 unfold relative to each other, the elastic recovery of the second support portion 132 makes the recovery performance of the bending area 112 of the display panel 110 stronger, thereby improving the lifespan of the bending area 112 and preventing fatigue damage to the bending area 112 during repeated bending.

[0063] It is understood that in this embodiment, the first support portion 131, the second support portion 132 and the third support portion 133 extend along the second direction as a whole, and both ends of the three along the second direction are flush with both ends of the display panel along the second direction, so as to ensure reliable support for the bending area 112 of the display panel 110.

[0064] This technical solution provides a display module 100, which is applied in a display device. The display module 100 can display images, text, videos, and other content, thereby realizing information visualization. The display panel 110 is flexibly deformable, allowing it to bend, fold, or stretch along the support layer 120, thus adapting to shape changes. The display panel 110 extends along a first direction and a second direction to form a planar structure. The display panel 110 is configured to include a first non-bending region 111, a bending region 112, and a second non-bending region 113 arranged sequentially along the first direction, so that the first non-bending region 111 and the second non-bending region 113 can be operably rotated around the bending region 112, thereby realizing the relative folding or unfolding of the first non-bending region 111 and the second non-bending region 113. By providing support layers 120 in the first non-bending area 111 and the second non-bending area 113, and by placing the two support layers 120 in the first non-bending area 111 and the second non-bending area 113 respectively, the support layers 120 support the first non-bending area 111 and the second non-bending area 113, thereby preventing the first non-bending area 111 and the second non-bending area 113 from collapsing when the user presses the display panel 110 during use of the display device, thus affecting the user experience. By providing a support bracket 130, and by having the first support part 131 and the third support part 133 abut against the two support layers 120 on the side away from the display panel 110, after the display module 100 is assembled with the middle frame 200, the support layers 120 and the middle frame 200 limit the first support part 131 and the third support part 133, thereby limiting the entire support bracket 130. By abutting the second support portion 132 against the bending area 112 of the display panel 110, a supporting force is provided to the bending area 112 of the display panel. When the display panel 110 is bent, the second support portion 132 can support and fix the bending area 112. When the display panel 110 is unfolded, the flatness of the bending area 112 can be ensured under the supporting force of the second support portion 132. In addition, since the second support portion 132 can support the bending area 112 and the support bracket 130 itself can elastically deform to enhance the elastic recovery ability of the bending area 112, the fatigue strength of the display module 100 during repeated folding and unfolding is improved, thereby increasing the service life of the display module 100 and avoiding the risk of wrinkles during unfolding.

[0065] Combination Figure 2 , Figure 4 and Figure 5It is understood that, in one embodiment, the support bracket 130 further includes a first connecting portion 134 and a second connecting portion 135 spaced apart along a first direction; the first connecting portion 134 and the second connecting portion 135 extend along a second direction, defining the stacking direction of the display panel 110 and the support layer 120 as a third direction, the two ends of the first connecting portion 134 along the third direction are respectively connected to the first support portion 131 and the second support portion 132, and the two ends of the second connecting portion 135 along the third direction are respectively connected to the second support portion 132 and the third support portion 133.

[0066] It is understandable that, since the second support portion 132 is supported on the bent region 112, and the first support portion 131 is supported on the side of the support layer 120 corresponding to the first non-bent region 111 away from the display panel 110, and the third support portion 133 is supported on the side of the support layer 120 corresponding to the second non-bent region 113 away from the display panel 110, it can be known that the first support portion 131 and the second support portion 132 have a height difference in the third direction. Therefore, by providing the first connecting portion 134 and the second connecting portion 135 at intervals along the first direction on the support bracket 130, and connecting the two ends of the first connecting portion 134 along the third direction to the first support portion 131 and the second support portion 132 respectively, the first support portion 131 and the second support portion 132 can adapt to the height difference between them in the third direction. Correspondingly, the two ends of the second connecting portion 135 along the third direction are connected to the second support portion 132 and the third support portion 133 respectively, so that the second support portion 132 and the third support portion 133 can adapt to the height difference between them in the third direction.

[0067] In this embodiment, the first connecting part 134 and the second connecting part 135 are made of the same material as the second support part 132, so that the first connecting part 134 and the second connecting part 135 have high elastic deformation capacity, so that when the bending area 112 is bent and deformed, the first connecting part 134 and the second connecting part 135 can have high elastic deformation capacity, thereby adapting to the bending deformation of the bending area 112.

[0068] Furthermore, the corner where the first connecting part 134 connects to the first support part 131 and the second support part 132 is rounded, and the corner where the second connecting part 135 connects to the second support part 132 and the third support part 133 is rounded. In this way, when the bending area 112 of the display panel 110 is bent and deformed, the corresponding corner has a larger deformation space, which helps to prevent the support bracket 130 from interfering with the support layer 120, thereby preventing the corresponding position of the display panel 110 from arching or wrinkling.

[0069] In one embodiment, the first support portion, the second support portion, and the third support portion are integrally formed to construct the support bracket. Specifically, the first support portion 131, the second support portion 132, the third support portion 133, the first connecting portion 134, and the second connecting portion 135 are all made of the same material, such as PET, and are integrally formed. This arrangement ensures the structural strength and service life of the support bracket 130 while simplifying the molding process of the support bracket 130, thereby reducing production costs.

[0070] In one embodiment, the elastic modulus of the support bracket is greater than that of the display panel; preferably, the elastic modulus of the support bracket at a tensile rate of 30 mm / min is greater than 4 GPa.

[0071] By selecting a material with an elastic modulus greater than that of the display panel, the support bracket exhibits stronger resilience relative to the display panel. This facilitates secondary reinforcement of the elastic recovery capability in the bending area, thereby enhancing the fatigue strength of the display module during repeated folding and unfolding, ultimately improving its lifespan and mitigating the risk of wrinkles during unfolding. Furthermore, the elastic modulus of the support bracket is greater than that of the PI film in the display panel. In some specific embodiments, the elastic modulus of the support bracket at a tensile rate of 30 mm / min is 4.1 GPa.

[0072] Combination Figure 2 , Figure 4 and Figure 5 It is understood that in one embodiment, the first connecting portion 134, the second supporting portion 132 and the second connecting portion 135 together enclose and define a clearance groove, the clearance groove extends along the second direction, the opening of the clearance groove is away from the display panel 110, and the clearance groove is used to accommodate the hinge shaft 300 of the display device.

[0073] It is understood that the display module 100 provided in this application embodiment is applied in a display device. Further, the display module 100 is foldable or unfoldable; correspondingly, the display module 100 is applied in a foldable display device. Specifically, the foldable display device includes a foldable display module 100 and a foldable mid-frame 200. The mid-frame 200 includes a first part, a second part, and a hinge pivot 300. The hinge pivot 300 connects the first part and the second part, allowing the first part to rotate relative to the second part. The first non-bending area 111 of the display module 100 corresponds to the first part of the mid-frame 200, the second non-bending area 113 of the display module 100 corresponds to the second part of the mid-frame 200, and the bending area 112 of the module corresponds to the hinge pivot 300 portion of the mid-frame 200. By supporting the first non-bending area 111 and the second non-bending area 113 of the display module 100 on the first part and the second part of the middle frame 200 respectively, the display module 100 can be unfolded and folded as the first part and the second part rotate.

[0074] It should be understood that when the first part and the second part rotate relative to the hinge axis 300 and fold relative to each other, the hinge axis 300 protrudes from the ends of the first part and the second part. Therefore, a clearance groove is defined by the first connecting part 134, the second supporting part 132 and the second connecting part 135 to avoid the hinge axis 300, thereby preventing interference between the hinge axis 300 of the middle frame 200 and the support bracket 130 of the display module 100 when the first part and the second part of the middle frame 200 drive the first non-bending area 111 and the second non-bending area 113 to fold relative to each other, thus making the bending area 112 of the folded display device flatter. In addition, the hinge pivot 300 is avoided by the aforementioned clearance groove, so that the hinge pivot 300 will not cause damage to the support bracket 130 and the bending area 112 of the display module due to interference. This allows the support bracket 130 and the display module 100 to return to their original shape under elastic recovery after the display module 100 is unfolded, thereby ensuring the flatness of the display module 100 after unfolding.

[0075] like Figure 4 As shown, in one embodiment, there is a first gap between the first connecting portion 134 and the end of the support layer 120 near the first connecting portion 134, and a second gap between the second connecting portion 135 and the support layer 120 near the second connecting portion 135. The width D1 of the first gap and the width D2 of the second gap satisfy the conditions: 0.1mm≤D1≤0.2mm, 0.1mm≤D2≤0.2mm.

[0076] It should be understood that, since the first connecting portion 134 and the second connecting portion 135 are elastically deformable, and the support layer 120 is made of stainless steel, which has high rigidity, the deformation of the first connecting portion 134 and the second connecting portion 135 is relatively large during the folding and unfolding process of the display module 100. This causes the first connecting portion 134 and the second connecting portion 135 to easily come into contact with the support layer 120 due to deformation, thereby causing damage to the first connecting portion 134 and the second connecting portion 135 by the support layer 120.

[0077] In this embodiment, a first gap is provided between the first connecting portion 134 and the end of the support layer 120 near the first connecting portion 134, and a second gap is provided between the second connecting portion 135 and the support layer 120 near the second connecting portion 135. This provides deformation space for the elastic deformation of the first connecting portion 134 and the second connecting portion 135, thereby preventing the first connecting portion 134 and the second connecting portion 135 from contacting the support layer 120 during the folding and unfolding process of the display module 100, which would otherwise damage the first connecting portion 134 and the second connecting portion 135.

[0078] By setting the width D1 of the first gap in the first direction and the width D2 of the second gap in the first direction to satisfy the conditions 0.1mm≤D1≤0.2mm and 0.1mm≤D2≤0.2mm, it is possible to ensure that the first connecting part 134 and the second connecting part 135 have sufficient deformation space, while ensuring that the supporting area of ​​the first connecting part 134, the second connecting part 135 and the second supporting part 132 on the bending area 112 is large enough, thereby ensuring the reliability of the support bracket 130 in supporting the bending area 112.

[0079] In one specific embodiment, the width D1 of the first gap in the first direction is 0.1 mm, and the width D2 of the second gap in the first direction is 0.1 mm; in another specific embodiment, the width D1 of the first gap in the first direction is 0.15 mm, and the width D2 of the second gap in the first direction is 0.15 mm; in yet another specific embodiment, the width D1 of the first gap in the first direction is 0.2 mm, and the width D2 of the second gap in the first direction is 0.2 mm.

[0080] Combination Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 5It is understood that, in one embodiment, the sides of the first support portion 131 and the third support portion 133 opposite to the support layer 120 are both connected to the middle frame 200 of the display device. One of the first support portion 131 and the middle frame 200 is provided with a first limiting groove, and the other is provided with a first limiting protrusion 1311, which is disposed within the first limiting groove. One of the second support portion 132 and the middle frame 200 is provided with a second limiting groove, and the other is provided with a second limiting protrusion 1331, which is disposed within the second limiting groove. The first limiting groove, the first limiting protrusion 1311, the second limiting groove, and the second limiting protrusion 1331 all extend along a second direction.

[0081] By providing a first limiting groove in one of the first support portion 131 and the middle frame 200, and a first limiting protrusion 1311 in the other, the connection between the first support portion 131 and the middle frame 200 is achieved through the mutual limiting of the first limiting protrusion 1311 and the first limiting groove. Correspondingly, by providing a second limiting groove in one of the third support portion 133 and the middle frame 200, and a second limiting protrusion 1331 in the other, the connection between the third support portion 133 and the middle frame 200 is achieved through the mutual limiting of the second limiting protrusion 1331 and the second limiting groove. With this configuration, the connection between the first support portion 131 and the third support portion 133 and the middle frame 200 can be achieved without additional components.

[0082] By configuring the first limiting groove, the first limiting protrusion 1311, the second limiting groove, and the second limiting protrusion 1331 to extend along the second direction, when the display module 100 is connected to the middle frame 200, the assembly of the first limiting protrusion 1311 and the first limiting groove, as well as the assembly of the second limiting protrusion 1331 and the second limiting groove, can be achieved by sliding one end of the first limiting protrusion 1311 and the second limiting protrusion 1331 along the second direction into the first limiting groove and the second limiting groove.

[0083] Combination Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 5It is understood that in some embodiments, a first limiting protrusion 1311 is disposed on the first support portion 131, a first limiting groove is disposed on the middle frame 200, a second limiting protrusion 1331 is disposed on the third support portion 133, and a second limiting groove is disposed on the middle frame 200; in other embodiments, the first limiting protrusion 1311 is disposed on the middle frame 200, the first limiting groove is disposed on the first support portion 131, the second limiting protrusion 1331 is disposed on the middle frame 200, and the second limiting groove is disposed on the third support portion 133. In still some embodiments, one of the first limiting protrusion 1311 and the second limiting protrusion 1331 is disposed on the middle frame 200 and the other is disposed on the support portion, and one of the first limiting groove and the second limiting groove is disposed on the middle frame 200 and the other is disposed on the support portion.

[0084] In one embodiment, the width of the first limiting groove and the second limiting groove gradually decreases from the bottom of the groove to the opening of the groove, and the shapes of the first limiting protrusion 1311 and the second limiting protrusion 1331 are adapted to the shapes of the first limiting groove and the second limiting groove.

[0085] By setting the width of the first limiting groove and the second limiting groove to gradually decrease from the bottom of the groove to the opening of the groove, the shapes of the first limiting protrusion 1311 and the second limiting protrusion 1331 are adapted to the shapes of the first limiting groove and the second limiting groove, so that when the first limiting protrusion 1311 is adapted to the first limiting groove, the first limiting protrusion 1311 can resist and limit the groove wall of the first limiting groove in the third direction; when the second limiting protrusion 1331 is adapted to the second limiting groove, the second limiting protrusion 1331 can resist and limit the groove wall of the second limiting groove in the third direction.

[0086] Specifically, the first limiting groove and the second limiting groove are dovetail grooves, and the first limiting protrusion 1311 and the second limiting protrusion 1331 are dovetail-shaped protrusions. Of course, in other embodiments, the first limiting groove and the second limiting groove can also be set as inverted "T" shaped grooves, and the first limiting protrusion 1311 and the second limiting protrusion 1331 can be set as inverted "T" shaped structures. In this way, the groove walls of the limiting grooves and the limiting protrusions mutually limit and resist each other, thereby realizing the mutual connection between the support bracket 130 and the middle frame 200.

[0087] In one embodiment, a first limiting protrusion 1311 is provided on the first support portion 131, and there are two first limiting protrusions 1311. The two first limiting protrusions 1311 are spaced apart along a first direction. A first limiting groove is provided on the middle frame 200, and the number of first limiting grooves corresponds to the number of first limiting protrusions 1311. A second limiting protrusion 1331 is provided on the third support portion 133, and there are two second limiting protrusions 1331. The two second limiting protrusions 1331 are spaced apart along a first direction. A second limiting groove is provided on the middle frame 200.

[0088] By setting the first limiting protrusion 1311 on the first support portion 131, setting the first limiting groove on the middle frame 200, setting the second limiting protrusion 1331 on the third support portion 133, and setting the second limiting groove on the middle frame 200, the first support portion 131 and the second support portion 132 have strong elastic deformation capabilities due to the high rigidity of the middle frame 200. This arrangement allows for relatively larger dimensions of the first and second limiting grooves, and relatively smaller dimensions of the first limiting protrusion 1311 and the second limiting protrusion 1331, making it easier for the first and second limiting protrusions 1311 and 1331 to be inserted into the first and second limiting grooves.

[0089] In this embodiment, two spaced-apart first limiting protrusions 1311 are provided on the first support portion 131, and two spaced-apart second limiting protrusions 1331 are provided on the second support portion 132. The number of first limiting grooves corresponds to the number of first limiting protrusions 1311, and the number of second limiting grooves corresponds to the number of second limiting protrusions 1331. This allows the first support portion 131 and the second support portion 132 to be more stably connected to the middle frame 200, thereby ensuring the stability of the connection between the support bracket 130 and the middle frame 200.

[0090] like Figure 6 As shown, in one embodiment, there is a first assembly gap, denoted by H1, between the first limiting groove and the first limiting protrusion 1311 in the third direction; there is a second assembly gap, denoted by H2, between the second limiting groove and the second limiting protrusion 1331 in the third direction; the first single-sided gap between the first limiting groove and the first limiting protrusion 1311 in the first direction is d1; the second unit gap between the second limiting groove and the second limiting protrusion 1331 in the first direction is d2; the first assembly gap H1, the second assembly gap H2, the first single-sided gap d1, and the second single-sided gap d2 satisfy the following conditions: 0.1mm≤H1≤0.2mm, 0.1mm≤H2≤0.2mm; 0.1mm≤d1≤0.2mm, 0.1mm≤d2≤0.2mm.

[0091] In this embodiment, a first assembly gap is provided between the first limiting groove and the first limiting protrusion 1311 in the third direction, and a first single-sided gap is provided on both sides in the first direction, so that there is a gap between the first limiting protrusion 1311 and the first limiting groove. This facilitates the insertion of the first limiting protrusion 1311 into the first limiting groove, and also allows for relative movement between the first limiting protrusion 1311 and the first limiting groove when the display module 100 is folded, so that the groove wall of the first limiting groove will not squeeze the first limiting protrusion 1311. A second assembly gap is provided between the second limiting groove and the second limiting protrusion 1331 in the third direction, and a second single-sided gap is provided on both sides in the first direction, so that there is a gap between the second limiting protrusion 1331 and the second limiting groove. This facilitates the insertion of the second limiting protrusion 1331 into the second limiting groove, and also allows for relative movement between the second limiting protrusion 1331 and the second limiting groove when the display module 100 is folded, so that the groove wall of the second limiting groove will not squeeze the second limiting protrusion 1331.

[0092] The first assembly gap H1, the second assembly gap H2, the first single-sided gap d1, and the second single-sided gap d2 are designed to meet the following conditions: 0.1mm≤H1≤0.2mm, 0.1mm≤H2≤0.2mm; 0.1mm≤d1≤0.2mm, 0.1mm≤d2≤0.2mm. This ensures that there is relative movement space between the limiting protrusion and the limiting groove, while preventing the limiting protrusion from detaching from the limiting groove, thereby guaranteeing the stability of the connection between the support bracket 130 and the middle frame 200.

[0093] Secondly, this application embodiment also provides a display device, which includes the display module 100 as described above. The display device also includes two buffer layers 140 and a middle frame 200 that are spaced apart. The two buffer layers 140 correspond to the two support layers 120 and are disposed between the support layers 120 and the middle frame 200.

[0094] It should be noted that the display device can be a variety of electronic display products, including but not limited to at least one of mobile phones, tablet computers, e-book readers, media players, digital cameras, laptops, in-vehicle computers, desktop computers, set-top boxes, smart TVs, and wearable devices.

[0095] By providing a buffer layer 140 between the display panel 110 and the middle frame 200, the impact force on the display module 100 can be absorbed by the buffer layer 140, thereby reducing the risk of the display module 100 breaking and thus improving the service life of the display device.

[0096] like Figure 3As shown, in one embodiment, the support bracket 130 has a third gap D3 between its two ends along the first direction and the ends of the two buffer layers 140, respectively. The third gap D3 satisfies the condition: 0.3mm≤D3≤0.5mm.

[0097] A third gap is provided between the two ends of the support bracket 130 along the first direction and the ends of the two buffer layers 140, respectively. On the one hand, this makes the cutting error requirement of the buffer layer 140 lower when setting it, which is beneficial to the assembly of the display device. On the other hand, it facilitates the provision of deformation space for the elastic deformation of the first connecting part 134 and the second connecting part 135, thereby preventing the first connecting part 134 and the second connecting part 135 from interfering with the buffer layer 140.

[0098] 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.

[0099] The embodiments described above are merely illustrative of several implementations of the present invention, and while the descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention patent. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of the present invention, and these all fall within the protection scope of the present invention. Therefore, the protection scope of this invention patent should be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A display module, used in a display device, for presenting image information, characterized in that, The display module includes: The display panel is flexibly deformable and extends along a first direction and a second direction. The display panel includes a first non-bending area, a bending area and a second non-bending area arranged sequentially along the first direction. The first non-bending area and the second non-bending area can be folded or unfolded around the bending area. Two support layers are provided, spaced apart along the first direction, and respectively support the first non-bending area and the second non-bending area of ​​the display panel. Both support layers are located on the backlight side of the display panel. A support bracket is provided, which is elastically deformable. The support bracket is disposed on the backlight side of the display panel. The support bracket includes a first support portion, a second support portion and a third support portion arranged sequentially along a first direction. The first support portion and the third support portion abut against the side of the two support layers away from the display panel and are located at the ends of the two support layers that are close to each other. The second support portion abuts against the bending area of ​​the display panel and is in contact with the bending area. The first direction is perpendicular to the second direction, and the first support portion, the second support portion and the third support portion all extend along the second direction.

2. The display module according to claim 1, characterized in that, The support bracket further includes a first connecting portion and a second connecting portion that are spaced apart along the first direction; The first connecting portion and the second connecting portion extend along the second direction, and the stacking direction of the display panel and the support layer is defined as the third direction. The two ends of the first connecting portion along the third direction are respectively connected to the first support portion and the second support portion, and the two ends of the second connecting portion along the third direction are respectively connected to the second support portion and the third support portion.

3. The display module according to claim 2, characterized in that, The first connecting portion, the second supporting portion, and the second connecting portion together enclose and define a clearance groove. The clearance groove extends along the second direction, and the opening of the clearance groove faces away from the display panel. The clearance groove is used to accommodate the hinge shaft of the display device.

4. The display module according to claim 2, characterized in that, A first gap exists between the first connecting portion and the end of the support layer near the first connecting portion, and a second gap exists between the second connecting portion and the support layer near the second connecting portion. The widths D1 of the first gap and D2 of the second gap satisfy the condition: 0.1mm≤D1≤0.2mm, 0.1mm≤D2≤0.2mm.

5. The display module according to claim 2, characterized in that, The side of the first support part and the third support part away from the support layer are both connected to the middle frame of the display device. One of the first support part and the middle frame is provided with a first limiting groove, and the other is provided with a first limiting protrusion. The first limiting protrusion is provided in the first limiting groove. One of the third support portion and the middle frame is provided with a second limiting groove, and the other is provided with a second limiting protrusion, the second limiting protrusion being disposed within the second limiting groove; The first limiting groove, the first limiting protrusion, the second limiting groove, and the second limiting protrusion all extend along the second direction; Preferably, the width of the first limiting groove and the second limiting groove gradually decreases from the bottom of the groove to the opening of the groove, and the shape of the first limiting protrusion and the second limiting protrusion is adapted to the shape of the first limiting groove and the second limiting groove.

6. The display module according to claim 5, characterized in that, The first limiting protrusion is provided on the first support portion, and there are two first limiting protrusions. The two first limiting protrusions are spaced apart along the first direction. The first limiting groove is provided on the middle frame, and the number of the first limiting grooves corresponds to the number of the first limiting protrusions. The second limiting protrusion is provided on the third support part, and there are two second limiting protrusions. The two second limiting protrusions are arranged at intervals along the first direction, and the second limiting groove is provided on the middle frame.

7. The display module according to claim 5, characterized in that, There is a first assembly gap, denoted by H1, between the first limiting groove and the first limiting protrusion in the third direction; and there is a second assembly gap, denoted by H2, between the second limiting groove and the second limiting protrusion in the third direction. The first single-sided gap between the first limiting groove and the first limiting protrusion in the first direction is d1, and the second unit gap between the second limiting groove and the second limiting protrusion in the first direction is d2; the first assembly gap H1, the second assembly gap H2, the first single-sided gap d1, and the second single-sided gap d2 satisfy the following conditions: 0.1mm≤H1≤0.2mm, 0.1mm≤H2≤0.2mm; 0.1mm≤d1≤0.2mm, 0.1mm≤d2≤0.2mm.

8. The display module according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that, The first support portion, the second support portion, and the third support portion are integrally formed to construct the support bracket; Preferably, the elastic modulus of the support bracket is greater than that of the display panel; Preferably, the elastic modulus of the support bracket at a tensile rate of 30 mm / min is greater than 4 GPa.

9. A display device, characterized in that, The display device includes a display module as described in any one of claims 1-9, and the display device further includes two spaced buffer layers and a middle frame, the two buffer layers corresponding to the two support layers, and the buffer layers being disposed between the support layers and the middle frame.

10. The display device according to claim 9, characterized in that, The support bracket has a third gap D3 between each end of the support bracket and the ends of the two buffer layers along the first direction, and the third gap D3 satisfies the following condition: 0.3mm≤D3≤0.5mm.

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