Display module and electronic device

Abstract

The application provides a display module and electronic equipment. The display module comprises a display panel, a supporting component and a composite adhesive tape component. The display panel comprises a display area, a bending area and a binding area. The bending area is located between the display area and the binding area. The binding area is used for carrying an IC driving chip and a control module. At least one end of the supporting component has a stress relief structure. The bending area is in a bending state. The lower side of the display area is provided with the supporting component and the composite adhesive tape component. The stress relief structure side of the supporting component is close to the bending area. A gap is formed between the inner side of the bending area and the stress relief structure. Through optimization of the structure of the supporting component on the non-light-emitting surface side of the display panel, the morphology of the end of the supporting component close to the bending area of the display panel is optimized to release the bending stress, reduce the hidden danger of damage at the contact, and meet the requirement of an extremely narrow frame.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of display technology, and more specifically, to display module structure design technology within the field of display technology, particularly a display module and electronic device. Background Technology

[0002] As users' demands for visual experience continue to increase, high screen-to-body ratios of display panels have become an inevitable trend in the industry. Reducing the bezel width of display panels is a crucial means to achieve high screen-to-body ratios. A display panel consists of a display area and a non-display area. The non-display area forms the bezel of the display device. For flexible display panels, technologies have been developed to bend the display panel towards the rear of the display device to reduce the bezel. Currently, the top, left, and right bezels of display panels can be made very narrow. However, because the bottom bezel has a bending and bonding area, narrowing the bottom bezel can easily lead to display defects. Summary of the Invention

[0003] In view of this, the purpose of this disclosure is to provide a display module and an electronic device. This display module avoids cracking in the bending area after bending.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, this application adopts the following technical solution:

[0005] A display module includes a display panel, a support component, and a composite tape component.

[0006] The display module includes a display panel, a support component, and a composite tape component.

[0007] The display panel includes a display area, a bending area, and a bonding area, with the bending area located between the display area and the bonding area. The bonding area is used to mount an IC driver chip and a control module.

[0008] The support member has a stress relief structure at at least one end;

[0009] The bending area is in a bent state. A support component and a composite tape component are provided on the lower side of the display area. The stress-relieving structure side of the support component is close to the bending area, and there is a gap between the inner side of the bending area and the stress-relieving structure. The gap is constructed to gradually increase from the starting line of the bending area.

[0010] The supporting component includes a first supporting component and a second supporting component;

[0011] When the bending area is in a bent state, the stress relief structure of the first support member has at least a portion of its orthographic projection on the display area side located within the orthographic projection of the bending area.

[0012] In one embodiment, the support member includes a first support member and a second support member;

[0013] When the bending area is in a bent state, the orthographic projection of the stress relief structure at the end of the first support component on the display area side is located within the bending area.

[0014] Preferably, the stress relief structure at the end of the first support member has its orthographic projection on the display area side covering the starting line of the bending area;

[0015] Preferably, the stress relief structure at the end of the second support member has its orthographic projection on the display area side located within the bending area;

[0016] Preferably, the stress relief structure at the end of the second support member has its orthographic projection on the bonding area side covering the cutoff line of the bending area.

[0017] In one embodiment, at least one end of the first support member and at least one end of the second support member are respectively curved.

[0018] Preferably, the cross-section of the end portion includes an arc shape;

[0019] Preferably, the cross-section of the end portion includes a semi-circle;

[0020] Preferably, the curvature of the end is the same as the curvature of the bend in the bending region.

[0021] In one embodiment, the thickness of the first support member is between 80-200 μm;

[0022] Preferably, the thickness of the first support component is between 80-150 μm;

[0023] Preferably, the thickness of the first support component is between 90-120 μm.

[0024] In one embodiment, the end of the first support member is provided with a hollow area, and two adjacent hollow areas have protrusions.

[0025] In one embodiment, the first support member includes a main body, one end of which has an end portion. The bending area is in a bent state, and the orthographic projection of the main body on the display area side coincides with the starting line of the bending area.

[0026] Preferably, the main body and the end portion are designed as a single unit;

[0027] Preferably, the cross-section of the end portion includes at least a circular arc shape.

[0028] In one embodiment, the second support member includes a main body portion, one end of which has an end portion, and the orthographic projection of the main body portion on the binding area side coincides with the cutoff line of the bending area;

[0029] Preferably, the cross-section of the end of the second support member includes at least a portion of an arc shape.

[0030] In one embodiment, the support member includes a third support member and a fourth support member;

[0031] In the bent state, one end of the third support portion is configured such that the side closest to the inner side of the bending area has an arc; preferably, the curvature of the end of the third support portion is the same as the curvature of the bending area.

[0032] In the bent state, one end of the fourth support portion is configured to have an arc on the side near the inner side of the bending area; preferably, the curvature of the end of the fourth support portion is the same as the curvature of the bending area.

[0033] In one embodiment, the display module further includes a shim, the shim being disposed on the side of the composite tape component away from the first support component;

[0034] Preferably, the thickness of the raised component is between 40-150 μm;

[0035] Preferably, the shim component comprises a composite structure combining foam and OCA adhesive;

[0036] Preferably, the shim component comprises a composite structure of a silicone pad and OCA (Optically Clear Adhesive) adhesive;

[0037] Preferably, the surface of the silicone pad is provided with a grid pattern.

[0038] Based on the same inventive concept, this application proposes an electronic device that includes the aforementioned display module. The bezel of the display module is less than or equal to 1.0 mm.

[0039] Compared with the prior art, the display module proposed in this application optimizes the structure of the support component located on the non-light-emitting side of the display panel, and optimizes the morphology of the end of the support component near the bending area of ​​the display panel to release bending stress, reduce the risk of damage at the contact point, and improve the reliability of the display panel. With this design, the display module can achieve ultra-narrow bezels of less than or equal to 1.0 mm. Attached Figure Description

[0040] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in this disclosure or related technologies, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments or related technologies will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the accompanying drawings described below are only embodiments of this disclosure. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0041] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of an existing display module in a bent state;

[0042] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a display module in a flat state according to an embodiment of this application;

[0043] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of a display module in a bent state according to an embodiment of this application;

[0044] Figure 4 for Figure 3 A magnified view of a portion at point b in the middle;

[0045] Figure 5 This is a top view of the first support component according to an embodiment of this application;

[0046] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of a display module in a bent state according to another embodiment of this application;

[0047] Figure 7 for Figure 6 A magnified view of a portion of point c. Detailed Implementation

[0048] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this disclosure clearer, the following detailed description is provided in conjunction with specific embodiments and the accompanying drawings.

[0049] In the accompanying drawings, components with the same structure are indicated by the same numerical designation, and components with similar structures or functions are indicated by similar numerical designations. The dimensions and thicknesses of each component shown in the drawings are arbitrary, and the present invention does not limit the dimensions and thicknesses of each component. To make the illustrations clearer, the thickness of components is appropriately exaggerated in some places in the drawings.

[0050] It should be noted that, unless otherwise defined, the technical or scientific terms used in the embodiments of this disclosure should have the ordinary meaning understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure pertains. The terms "first," "second," and similar terms used in the embodiments of this disclosure do not indicate any order, quantity, or importance, but are merely used to distinguish different components. Terms such as "comprising" or "including" mean that the element or object preceding the word encompasses the elements or objects listed following the word and their equivalents, without excluding other elements or objects. Terms such as "connected" or "linked" are not limited to physical or mechanical connections, but can include electrical connections, whether direct or indirect. Terms such as "upper," "lower," "left," and "right" are used only to indicate relative positional relationships; when the absolute position of the described object changes, the relative positional relationship may also change accordingly.

[0051] High screen-to-body ratio has become an inevitable trend in the display industry, and reducing the bezel width of display panels is an important means to achieve this. A display panel consists of a display area and a non-display area. The non-display area surrounds the display area and forms the bezel of the display panel. The non-display area includes bending and bonding areas. For flexible display panels, technologies have been developed to bend parts of the display panel (such as bending and bonding areas) towards the rear to reduce the bezel and improve the screen-to-body ratio. Currently, the top, left, and right bezels of display panels can be made very narrow (less than 1.5mm). The bottom bezel area has bending and bonding areas. During the module stage, this bonding area is used to house the IC driver chip and control module. Then, the panel is bent into a predetermined arc (such as a semicircle). The bending points (such as the start and end points of the bending area) often experience excessive bending stress, leading to cracks at the twisted lines during production and reliability testing, resulting in display defects. To improve this defect, an adhesive (such as UV adhesive) is applied to the bending area to buffer the stress caused by bending, but the defect will still occur, with an incidence rate of about 0.6-0.8%.

[0052] Therefore, the applicant analyzed the aforementioned defects and found the following:

[0053] In existing flexible display panels, a support component is installed underneath to ensure a certain level of structural strength. This support component is approximately 80-200 μm thick and has a flat-edge design (e.g., ...). Figure 1 As shown, Figure 1 (Schematic diagram of the contact between the support member 10 and the substrate 20). During bending, the flexible substrate 20 contacts the edge of the support member 10. Figure 1As shown in point a), excessive stress at the contact point can cause the substrate to be cut, resulting in cracks at this location (such as cracks at the twisted wire location). Since there are metal traces in the bending area, these metal traces extend to the bonding area (cutting will damage the metal traces), resulting in display defects (especially noticeable for extremely narrow bezels of <1.5mm).

[0054] Based on this discovery, the inventors improved the structure of existing display modules. This improvement does not increase the number of processes in existing production lines (and will not reduce existing assembly efficiency), and can avoid defects caused by excessive stress at the contact points between the flexible substrate and the support film edge (causing cracks and defects).

[0055] The display module includes a display panel, a support component, and a composite tape component.

[0056] The support component has a stress-relieving structure at at least one end. The bending area is in a bent state (the bending area is bent into a predetermined shape during the module stage). A support component (i.e., structural optimization of the support component on the non-light-emitting side) and a composite tape component are provided on the lower side of the display area. The stress-relieving structure side of the support component is close to / facing the bending area side, and there is a gap between the inner side of the bending area and the stress-relieving structure (surface) (this gap gradually increases from the starting line of the bending area). The support component includes a first support component and a second support component, or a third support component and a fourth support component. In the bent state, the stress-relieving structure of the first and second support components, or the third and fourth support components, has an arc on the inner side / inner wall close to / facing the bending area. Preferably, the stress-relieving structure protrudes beyond the starting / ending line of the bending area. The stress-relieving structure prevents cracks from occurring during bending, thus avoiding reliability issues. The stress-relieving structure also indirectly supports the bottle itself, preventing cracks from occurring at the existing contact points between the bending area and the support component.

[0057] The display module includes a display panel, which includes a display area and a non-display area. A frame for the display device can be formed in the non-display area.

[0058] The display panel includes a substrate, a driving layer, and a light-emitting layer stacked together.

[0059] The substrate covers both the display area and the non-display area. It is a flexible substrate, and its material can be selected from materials such as polyimide (PI) or polyethylene terephthalate (PET), or a mixture of the above materials.

[0060] A driving layer is disposed on the substrate, covering the display area and the non-display area. The driving layer contains several thin-film transistors and signal traces (also called metal traces). Some of these signal traces extend and pass through a bending region to a bonding region, where they are electrically connected to bonding components to receive transmitted electrical signals. The driving layer may include a semiconductor layer, a first metal layer, a second metal layer, a third metal layer, a fourth metal layer, and an interlayer insulating film layer disposed between adjacent conductive film layers. The combination of the traces in the semiconductor layer and the first metal layer forms a transistor; the combination of the traces in the first metal layer and the traces in the second metal layer forms a storage capacitor; and the second, third, and fourth metal layers each contain multiple signal lines with different orientations. Corresponding signal lines are matched and electrically connected to transistors and storage capacitors, thereby forming a pixel driving circuit.

[0061] A light-emitting layer is disposed on the side of the driving layer away from the substrate. This light-emitting layer includes an array of light-emitting units, each of which includes a light-emitting device, which may be an OLED light-emitting device. Below the OLED light-emitting device is a driving circuit composed of thin-film transistors and signal traces (e.g., a 7T1C topology, i.e., 7 thin-film transistors and 1 storage capacitor). This driving circuit causes the corresponding light-emitting device to emit light based on received electrical signals. Furthermore, an encapsulation layer is disposed on the side of the light-emitting layer away from the substrate. This encapsulation layer may include inorganic and organic materials, which are used to isolate water and oxygen, preventing moisture corrosion that could cause failure of the light-emitting device or the driving circuit.

[0062] The display module includes a support component disposed on the side of the substrate away from the light-emitting layer and avoiding the bending area. A stress-relieving structure is provided at the contact point between the support component and the substrate to maximize the release of bending stress at the contact point between the substrate and the support component, thereby mitigating defects caused by excessive bending stress. The display panel is sometimes also called a screen.

[0063] Next, combine Figures 2-7 This description will depict the display module proposed in the embodiments of this application. For ease of drawing, the dimensions in the drawings are not necessarily proportional to actual dimensions, and some hierarchical structures in the display panel are not shown.

[0064] like Figure 2 The diagram shown is a schematic representation of a display module according to an embodiment of this application in a flat state; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the display module in a bent state. The manufacturing process of a display module can be roughly divided into three stages: array substrate fabrication, light-emitting function fabrication, and module assembly. In the module assembly stage, the display panel is bent into a preset shape and then installed in an electronic device.

[0065] The display module includes a display panel 100, which includes a display area 110, a bending area 120, and a bonding area 130. The bending area 120 is located between the display area 110 and the bonding area 130. Preferably, the edge of the non-bending area 120 side of the display area 110 has a border area.

[0066] In the bent state, a first support component 200, a composite tape component 300, a shim component, and a second support component 400 are provided on the lower side (non-light-emitting side) of the display area. The bonding area 130 houses an IC driver chip and a control module. The ends of the first support component 200 and the second support component 400 facing the bending area 120 are respectively curved. The orthographic projection of the stress-relieving structure at the end of the first support component on the display area side lies within the bending area; the orthographic projection of the stress-relieving structure at the end of the first support component on the display area side covers the starting line of the bending area (and lies within the curved contour of the bending area). When the bending area 120 is bent, the contact angle between the display area 110 and the bending area 120 and the first support component 200 can maximize the release of bending stress, alleviating defects caused by excessive stress at this location.

[0067] In one embodiment, the first support member is made of the same material as the second support member. The thickness of the first support member is between 80-200 μm (in the z-direction), preferably between 80-150 μm. Further, the thickness is between 90-120 μm. The first support member is used to protect the (flexible) display panel. The orthographic projection of the stress-relieving structure at the end of the second support member on the display area side lies within the bending region. The orthographic projection of the stress-relieving structure at the end of the second support member on the bonding area side covers the cutoff line of the bending region (and lies within the contour of the bending region). By optimizing the structure of the support member located on the non-light-emitting side of the display panel, the morphology of the end of the support member near the bending region of the display panel is optimized to release bending stress and reduce the risk of damage at the contact point. In this embodiment, the bending area is bent into a semicircle with a bending radius of less than or equal to 0.7 mm (e.g., 0.2 mm, 0.3 mm, 0.4 mm, 0.5 mm, 0.6 mm, 0.7 mm). This first support component prevents breakage or delamination during bending and curling, and also evenly distributes stress in the bending area, preventing localized damage to the display area. This design can be used to achieve ultra-narrow bezels of 1.0 mm or less.

[0068] The composite tape component 300 is used for cushioning and shock absorption to absorb stress caused by bending or external impact on the screen. Its thickness is ≤200μm (e.g., 60μm, 65μm, 75μm, 80μm, 85μm, 90μm, 95μm, 100μm, 110μm, 120μm, 130μm, 140μm, 150μm). A typical structure of the composite tape component 300 is a multilayer composite film, including sequentially stacked buffer layer 1, adhesive layer, protective layer, and buffer layer 2. The material of buffer layer 1 / 2 can be selected from polyurethane (PU) or acrylic (ACF), the material of the adhesive layer can be selected from optically transparent adhesive (e.g., silicone, acrylic), and the material of the protective layer can be selected from a combination of PET / PI substrate and a hardened coating.

[0069] In one embodiment, the bending area is provided with a bending protective layer (BPL, not shown). This BPL is prepared by pre-coating the bending area with a protective liquid and then hardening it. The BPL is waterproof, acid-resistant, and alkali-resistant.

[0070] In one embodiment, the first support component is made of polyimide-doped carbon fiber, which has high temperature resistance (>300°C), high modulus (3-5GPa), and low coefficient of thermal expansion (<20ppm / °C).

[0071] In one embodiment, the first support component includes PEEK (polyether ether ketone), which is resistant to high temperatures (250°C) and chemical corrosion.

[0072] In one embodiment, the first support component is made of a metal-based composite material, such as stainless steel foil, with a thickness of <50 μm and high impact resistance. An insulating layer is coated onto the surface of the stainless steel foil during use. Graphene / carbon nanotube reinforcing materials can also be used to improve conductivity and resistance to bending fatigue.

[0073] When preparing the first support component, after cutting the entire piece to a predetermined size, the end face can be curved using laser or polishing. Taking laser as an example, high-precision curved surfaces (with adjustable radius of curvature (e.g., R0.5mm~R5mm)) with a surface roughness Ra≤0.8μm can be machined on the end face of the support component (such as the first support component) using laser precision cutting technology. Laser precision cutting is aided by visual positioning (e.g., a combination of CCD camera and laser rangefinder to ensure machining position accuracy). The curved surface contour (e.g., R3mm semicircle) can be designed using CAD software and then imported into laser processing software to generate toolpaths (e.g., G-code).

[0074] Preferably, the specifications of the second support component are the same as those of the first support component.

[0075] See Figure 4 ,for Figure 3A magnified view of a portion of point a.

[0076] The first support member 200 has an end portion 210 on one side, which is curved, meaning the cross-section of the end portion 210 includes an arc shape, such as a semicircle. Preferably, the curvature of the end portion 210 is the same as or approximately the same as the curvature of the bending region 120. With this design, there is no interference between the starting line 120b of the bending region in the bent state and the end portion 210 of the first support member 200 (there is a gap between the surface 210a of the end portion 210 and the inner side 120a of the bending region 120, which gradually increases from the starting line 120b of the bending region), thus avoiding interference between the end portion 210 of the first support member 200 and the inner side 120a of the bending region 120, and preventing excessive bending stress from causing damage at the contact point.

[0077] In one embodiment, the top view of the first support member is shown as follows: Figure 5 As shown, the first support member 200 has a hollowed-out area 210b on the end 210 side facing the bending area 120, and there is a protrusion between adjacent hollowed-out areas 210b. This design reduces the contact area even if the inner side of the bending area 120 contacts the end 210 side, thereby reducing the possibility of damage at the contact point due to interference and excessive bending stress. In other embodiments, the hollowed-out area 210b may not be provided. The structure of the second support member is similar to that of the first support member and will not be described again here.

[0078] In one embodiment, a shim 700 is provided on the side of the composite tape component 300 away from the first support component 200 (see [link]). Figure 3 The shim 700 contacts the second support 400 on one side and the composite tape component 300 on the other side.

[0079] The thickness of the raised component 700 is between 40-150μm (e.g., 40μm, 50μm, 60μm, 80μm, 100μm, 110μm, 120μm, 130μm, 150μm). In the display module, it is mainly used for support and positioning to maintain the gap between components (such as the touch layer and the OLED panel), prevent compression damage, and distribute stress, reducing local stress concentration during folding / bending. The raised component 700 typically adopts a multi-layer composite structure, and the material selection must consider elasticity, adhesion, and durability. Preferably, a composite structure combining foam and OCA adhesive is used; or a composite structure combining silicone pads and OCA adhesive, with the silicone pad surface having a mesh texture to enhance shear resistance.

[0080] As Figure 2 and Figure 3In a variation of the implementation, the first support member 200 includes a main body 200a, with an end portion 210 on one side. The starting line 120b of the bending area is aligned with the edge of the main body 200a. This design creates a gap between the inner side of the bending area and the end portion 210 of the first support member 200 after bending. The arc of the end portion indirectly supports the panel itself, preventing cracks from appearing at this location. This avoids interference between the end portion of the first support member 200 and the inner side of the bending area, preventing excessive bending stress that could cause damage at the contact point. Furthermore, a hollow area is provided in the end portion 210. This reduces the contact area even if the inner side of the bending area 120 contacts the end portion 210, thereby reducing the risk of cracks at the contact point due to interference and excessive bending stress, thus preventing reliability issues.

[0081] In the bent state, the end edge 300a of the composite tape component 300 on the lower side (non-light-emitting side) of the display area is flush with the main body 200a of the first support component 200, that is, the end 210 of the first support component 200 protrudes beyond the end edge 300a of the composite tape component 300. In other words, the orthographic projection of the composite tape component 300 onto the first support component 200 is flush with the main body 200a. The cross-section of the end 210 includes an arc shape, such as a semicircle. The orthographic projection of the end of the first support component 200 on the display area side is located within the bending area (i.e., the end protrudes beyond the starting line of the bending area), and the protruding portion can support the display panel. The bending area is bent into a semicircle, and the curvature of the bending area into a semicircle is the same as or approximately the same as the curvature of the end.

[0082] The second support member 400 includes a main body 400a, with an end portion 410 on one side. The cutoff line of the bending area is aligned with the edge (plane where the edge is located) of the main body 400a. This design creates a gap between the inner side of the bending area and the end portion 410 of the second support member 400 after bending. The arc of the end portion indirectly supports the panel itself, preventing cracks from appearing in this position. In the bent state, the edge of the end portion of the composite tape member 300 is flush with the main body 400a of the second support member 400, meaning the end portion 410 of the second support member 400 protrudes beyond the end portion of the composite tape member 300. The orthographic projection of the end portion of the second support member 400 on the bonding area side lies within the bending area (i.e., the end portion protrudes beyond the cutoff line of the bending area).

[0083] In one embodiment, a shim 700 is provided on the side of the composite tape component 300 away from the first support component 200, and one end of the shim 700 is flush with the end of the composite tape component 300; the shim 700 contacts the second support component 400. The end 210 of the first support component 200 and the end 410 of the second support component 400 protrude beyond the end of the shim 700.

[0084] In one embodiment, a first support member 200 and a raised member 700 are provided on the lower side (non-light-emitting side) of the display area. One end of the raised member 700 is flush with the main body 200a of the first support member 200, and the raised member 700 contacts the second support member 400. The end 210 of the first support member 200 and the end 410 of the second support member 400 protrude beyond the end of the raised member 700. In this embodiment, the composite adhesive tape member 300 is omitted. The raised member 700 may be a composite structure of foam and OCA adhesive; or a composite structure of silicone pad and OCA adhesive, with the surface of the silicone pad having a grid pattern to enhance shear resistance.

[0085] Preferably, the end 410 of the second support member 400 also has a hollow area similar to the end 210 of the first support member 200, so as to reduce the contact area between the inner side of the bending area and the end 410 of the second support member 400, reduce the cracks caused by interference, and thus reduce reliability problems.

[0086] In one embodiment, the cross-sectional shape of the display substrate in the bending region includes an arc shape, such as a semicircle. The sum of the thicknesses of the first support member 200, the shim member 700, and the second support member 400 is greater than or equal to the bending radius of the bending region of the display substrate 100. This bending radius is less than or equal to 0.7 mm (e.g., 0.2 mm, 0.3 mm, 0.4 mm, 0.5 mm, 0.6 mm, 0.7 mm). In this embodiment, the bending region is bent into a semicircle; in other embodiments, the bending region is bent into an ellipse.

[0087] The raised component 700 serves as an auxiliary support, ensuring a close and stable connection between the first support component 200 and the second support component 400. Simultaneously, it works with other structural components during bending to cope with stress changes and maintain the overall structural mechanical balance. The raised component 700 can be made of materials with elasticity, light weight, flexibility, and ultra-thinness, such as foam. The first to fourth support components are collectively referred to as support components.

[0088] As Figure 2 and Figure 3 Variations of the implementation method are as follows Figure 6 The diagram shown is a schematic representation of a display module according to another embodiment of this application in a bent state. See also...Figure 7 for Figure 6 A magnified view of a portion of point c.

[0089] The display module includes a display panel 100, which includes a display area 110, a bending area 120, and a bonding area 130. The bending area 120 is located between the display area 110 and the bonding area 130. Preferably, the edge of the non-bending area 120 side of the display area 110 has a border area. The bending area 120 is bent into a predetermined arc (such as a semicircle) during the module assembly stage.

[0090] In the bent state, a third support component 500, a composite tape component 300, a shim component 700, and a fourth support component 600 are provided on the lower side (non-light-emitting side) of the display area. During manufacturing, the fourth support component 600 can be pre-attached to the bonding area 130, and when bent, the fourth support component 600 is attached to one side of the shim component 700.

[0091] The end 510 of the third support member 500 is configured such that its end face 510a has a curvature on the side near the inner side 120a of the bending area 120. Preferably, the curvature of the end face near the inner side 120a of the bending area 120 is the same as or approximately the same as the curvature of the bending area 120. The end face of the end 510 can be made curved by laser or polishing after cutting the whole piece. The curved design of the end facing the inner side 120a of the bending area 120 avoids cracks during bending, thus preventing reliability issues, and also indirectly supports the bottle itself, ensuring that the panel does not crack at this position.

[0092] The end 610 of the fourth support member 600 is configured such that its end face is curved on the side near the inner side 120a of the bending region 120. Preferably, the curvature of the end face near the inner side 120a of the bending region 120 is the same as or approximately the same as the curvature of the bending region 120. The end face can be curved by laser or polishing after cutting the whole piece. The curved design of the end facing the inner side 120a of the bending region 120 avoids cracks during bending and can also indirectly support the bottle itself, preventing cracks from occurring at this location and causing reliability issues. The ends of the third support member 500 and the fourth support member 600 are respectively configured to be curved on the inner side / inner wall side near the bending region, that is, the cross-sectional shape of the end of the third support member 500 and the fourth support member 600 includes an arc shape, and the arc shape faces the inner side / inner wall of the bending region. The orthographic projection of this end on the display area side is located within the bending area (i.e., this end protrudes from the start / end line of the bending area), and the protruding part can support the display panel in a variable phase.

[0093] The end 510 of the third support member 500 and the end 610 of the fourth support member 600 may each be provided with a hollow area (see Figure 5 The adjacent hollowed-out areas have protrusions. With this design, even if the inner side / inner wall of the bending area 120 comes into contact with the end 510 / 610 side, the contact area is reduced, which can reduce the occurrence of damage (damage to metal traces) at the contact point due to interference and excessive bending stress.

[0094] As Figure 2 and Figure 3 and 6 The diagram shows a deformable display module, which includes a first support component 200 and a fourth support component 600. In the bent state, the lower side of the display area includes the first support component 200, a composite adhesive tape component, a shim component 700, and the fourth support component 600. A bending protective layer (BPL, not shown) is provided in the bending area. This BPL is prepared by pre-coating the bending area with a protective liquid and then curing it. The BPL is waterproof, acid-resistant, and alkali-resistant.

[0095] As Figure 2 and Figure 3 and 6 The diagram shows a deformable display module, which includes a second support component 300 and a third support component 500. In the bent state, the lower side of the display area includes the third support component 500, a composite adhesive tape component, a shim component 700, and the second support component 300. A bending protective layer (BPL, not shown) is provided in the bending area. This BPL is prepared by pre-coating the bending area with a protective liquid (such as a UV liquid) and then curing it. The BPL is waterproof, acid-resistant, and alkali-resistant.

[0096] In one embodiment, the bottom of the bending area is thinned, and then a UV adhesive is applied to the top layer. The thickness of the UV adhesive is between 40um and 70um (e.g., thicknesses of 40um, 45um, 50um, 55um, 60um, 65um, and 70um).

[0097] In one embodiment, the display panel 100 further includes a touch layer disposed between the display substrate and the touch protective layer. The touch layer can be a self-capacitive TP film layer or a mutually capacitive TP film layer. No limitation is made here, as long as its function is achieved.

[0098] Optionally, the material of the touch protective layer includes optical adhesive. For example, the touch layer may include a touch electrode layer and a touch insulating layer, wherein the touch electrode layer is disposed on the light-emitting side of the display substrate to realize the touch function. The touch protective layer is disposed on the side of the touch layer away from the display substrate.

[0099] In one embodiment, the display panel 100 further includes a cover plate disposed on the touch layer away from the display panel. Preferably, the cover plate is attached to the touch protective layer with optical adhesive.

[0100] Optionally, the cover plate may be made of ultra-thin glass (UTG) with a thickness of 30-100μm (e.g., a thickness of 30-50μm) or composite materials (e.g., a combination of CPI (transparent polyimide film) with a nano-coating or PET and a hardening layer).

[0101] This disclosure also provides an electronic device including the aforementioned display module. This electronic device can be a smartphone screen, a foldable laptop screen, a smart mobile device, a VR / XR device, etc. To reduce defects caused by bending stress during bending, the display module optimizes the structure of the support member located on the non-light-emitting side of the display panel. A stress-relieving structure is provided at the gas-carrying end. This support member has functions such as uniform heat distribution, anti-static properties, resistance to back impact, and improved flatness. Specifically, the morphology of the end of the support member near the bending area of ​​the display panel is optimized to release bending stress, reduce the risk of damage at the contact point, and improve the reliability of the display panel. The stress-relieving structure is at least partially located within the (semi-circular) contour of the bending area. Preferably, the orthographic projection of this end on the display area side is located within the bending area (i.e., the end protrudes beyond the starting line of the bending area), and the protruding portion can support the display panel. Achieving a bending radius of less than or equal to 0.7mm (e.g., 0.15mm, 0.2mm, 0.3mm, 0.4mm, 0.5mm, 0.6mm, 0.7mm). This design enables the display module to achieve an ultra-narrow bezel of less than or equal to 1.0mm.

[0102] It should be noted that the above description describes some embodiments of this disclosure. Other embodiments are within the scope of the appended claims. In some cases, the actions or steps recorded in the claims can be performed in a different order than that shown in the above embodiments and still achieve the desired result. Furthermore, the processes depicted in the drawings do not necessarily require a specific or sequential order to achieve the desired result. In some embodiments, multitasking and parallel processing are also possible or may be advantageous.

[0103] This disclosure is intended to cover all such substitutions, modifications, and variations that fall within the broad scope of the appended claims. Therefore, any omissions, modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of this disclosure should be included within the scope of protection of this disclosure.

Claims

1. A display module, characterized in that, The display module includes a display panel, a supporting component, and a composite tape component; The display panel includes a display area, a bending area, and a bonding area, wherein the bending area is located between the display area and the bonding area, and the bonding area is used to mount an IC driver chip and a control module; The support member has a stress relief structure at at least one end; The bending area is in a bent state. A support component and a composite tape component are provided on the lower side of the display area. The stress relief structure side of the support component is close to the bending area, and there is a gap between the inner side of the bending area and the stress relief structure. The gap is constructed to gradually increase from the starting line of the bending area. The supporting component includes a first supporting component and a second supporting component; When the bending area is in a bent state, the stress relief structure of the first support member has at least a portion of its orthographic projection on the display area side located within the orthographic projection of the bending area.

2. The display module as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The stress relief structure at the end of the first support member has its orthographic projection on the display area side covering the starting line of the bending area; Preferably, the stress relief structure at the end of the second support member has its orthographic projection on the display area side located within the bending area; Preferably, the stress relief structure at the end of the second support member has its orthographic projection on the bonding area side covering the cutoff line of the bending area.

3. The display module as described in claim 2, characterized in that, At least one end of the first support member and at least one end of the second support member are respectively curved; Preferably, the cross-section of the end portion includes an arc shape; Preferably, the cross-section of the end portion includes a semi-circle; Preferably, the curvature of the end is the same as the curvature of the bend in the bending region.

4. The display module as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The thickness of the first support component is between 80-200 μm; Preferably, the thickness of the first support component is between 80-150 μm; Preferably, the thickness of the first support component is between 90-120 μm.

5. The display module as described in claim 2 or 3, characterized in that, The end of the first support component is provided with a hollow area, and two adjacent hollow areas have protrusions.

6. The display module as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The first support component includes a main body, one end of which has an end portion. The bending area is in a bent state, and the orthographic projection of the main body on the display area side coincides with the starting line of the bending area. Preferably, the main body and the end portion are designed as a single unit; Preferably, the cross-section of the end portion includes at least a circular arc shape.

7. The display module as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The second support component includes a main body, one end of which has an end portion, and the orthographic projection of the main body on the binding area side coincides with the cutoff line of the bending area; Preferably, the cross-section of the end of the second support member includes at least a portion of an arc shape.

8. The display module as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The supporting components include a third supporting component and a fourth supporting component; In the bent state, one end of the third support portion is configured such that the side closest to the inner side of the bending area has an arc; preferably, the curvature of the end of the third support portion is the same as the curvature of the bending area. In the bent state, one end of the fourth support portion is configured such that the side closest to the inner side of the bending area has an arc. Preferably, the curvature of the end of the fourth support is the same as the curvature of the bending zone.

9. The display module as described in claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a shim, which is disposed on the side of the composite tape component away from the first support component; Preferably, the thickness of the raised component is between 40-150 μm; Preferably, the shim component comprises a composite structure combining foam and OCA adhesive; Preferably, the shim component comprises a composite structure of a silicone pad and OCA adhesive; Preferably, the surface of the silicone pad is provided with a grid pattern.

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

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