Support structure, display module and electronic device

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a support structure, a display module and an electronic device, the support structure comprising at least one first support layer and a second support layer arranged in a stack; the first support layer comprising a first bending region and a first non-bending region located at least one side of the first bending region; the first non-bending region comprising a first base material and a plurality of first fiber filaments, a fiber extension direction of the first fiber filaments being consistent with an axial direction of a bending axis of the support structure, the first bending region comprising a second base material; the second support layer comprising a third base material and a plurality of second fiber filaments, a fiber extension direction of the second fiber filaments being different from the fiber extension direction of the first fiber filaments.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to the field of electronic equipment technology, and in particular to a support structure, a display module, and an electronic device. Background Technology

[0002] The flexible display module in foldable electronic devices is formed by stacking multiple flexible film layers. It has very low stiffness and is easily bent. Related technologies typically add a support plate made of stainless steel or titanium alloy to the bottom of the flexible screen to improve its impact resistance and support performance.

[0003] To enable or facilitate bending of the support plate's bending area, recessed structures such as grooves or holes can be incorporated to reduce its stiffness. However, these recessed areas may exhibit defects or stress concentrations at their edges. During repeated bending, these stress concentration points are subjected to alternating stresses, which can lead to fatigue failure when the material's fatigue limit is exceeded. Furthermore, opening holes in the support plate alters the hole's edge shape, resulting in uneven support for the display module. If excessive pressure is applied to the screen, this can cause partial display failure, degrading the display quality and impacting the user experience. Utility Model Content

[0004] To overcome the problems existing in related technologies, this disclosure provides a support structure, a display module, and an electronic device.

[0005] According to a first aspect of this disclosure, a support structure for a flexible display panel is provided, comprising at least one first support layer and a second support layer stacked thereon; the first support layer includes a first bending region and a first non-bending region located on at least one side of the first bending region; the first non-bending region includes a first substrate material and a plurality of first filaments, the fiber extension direction of the first filaments being consistent with the axial direction of the bending axis of the support structure, and the first bending region including a second substrate material; the second support layer includes a third substrate material and a plurality of second filaments, the fiber extension direction of the second filaments being different from the fiber extension direction of the first filaments.

[0006] In some embodiments, the first bending region includes at least one first transition region, the first transition region being close to the first non-bending region; the first transition region is provided with a plurality of third fibers, the fiber extension direction of the third fibers being the same as that of the first fibers; the third fibers are made of different materials than the first fibers, and / or the arrangement density of the plurality of third fibers is less than that of the plurality of first fibers.

[0007] In some embodiments, the second support layer includes a second bending region, which is disposed corresponding to the first bending region; at least a portion of the plurality of second fibers have a cut-off portion located in the second bending region.

[0008] In some embodiments, the second support layer includes a second bending region, which is disposed corresponding to the first bending region; at least a portion of the plurality of second fibers have at least one first bending portion, which includes bending in a direction perpendicular to and away from the second support layer to form a first protrusion structure; the at least one bending portion is located in the second bending region.

[0009] In some embodiments, the number of the at least one first curved portion is one, and the first curved portion is symmetrical with respect to the bending axis; or, the number of the at least one first curved portion is multiple, and the multiple first curved portions are symmetrically arranged with respect to the bending axis.

[0010] In some embodiments, the second support layer includes a second bending region, which is disposed corresponding to the first bending region; at least a portion of the plurality of second fibers have a second bending portion, which includes bending along the extension direction of the bending axis to form a second protrusion structure; the second bending portion is located in the second bending region.

[0011] In some embodiments, the first bending region includes a plurality of fourth fibers, the plurality of fourth fibers including at least one group of fourth fibers, wherein the fibers of the plurality of fourth fibers in each group of fourth fibers are arranged in the same direction and the angle between the fiber arrangement and the axial direction of the bending axis is an acute angle.

[0012] In some embodiments, the support structure includes two first support layers, a second support layer is stacked on top of the two first support layers, and the second support layer is located between the two first support layers.

[0013] In some embodiments, the modulus of the first matrix material is greater than the modulus of the second matrix material and the third matrix material; among the second matrix material and the third matrix material, the modulus of the matrix material on the side closer to the bending axis is less than the modulus of the matrix material on the side farther from the bending axis.

[0014] According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, a display module is provided, comprising: a flexible display screen having a display surface; and a support structure as described in the first aspect, the support structure being disposed on the side of the flexible display screen opposite to the display surface.

[0015] According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, an electronic device is provided, the electronic device comprising: a housing; a display module as described in the second aspect; the housing comprising a first housing, a second housing, and a pivot assembly; the first housing and the second housing being respectively connected to the pivot assembly, the first housing and the second housing being rotatable with the pivot assembly; the display module being respectively connected to the first housing and the second housing and spanning the pivot assembly, the display module being foldable or flattenable with the relative rotation of the first housing and the second housing.

[0016] The technical solutions provided by the embodiments of this disclosure may include the following beneficial effects:

[0017] In the technical solution disclosed herein, in the support structure formed by the stacking of the first support layer and the second support layer, the stiffness of the non-bending region corresponding to the first non-bending region is greater than the stiffness of the bending region corresponding to the first bending region. When this support structure is applied to a flexible display module as the backplate of the flexible display panel, it can provide support for each functional film layer in the display module while possessing good bending performance; at the same time, since there is no need to slot or open in the bending region, the probability of defects such as imprints is reduced, and the compressive and impact resistance of the display module is greatly improved.

[0018] It should be understood that the above general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only, and are not intended to limit this disclosure. Attached Figure Description

[0019] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with this disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of this disclosure.

[0020] Figure 1 This is a schematic structural diagram of a foldable electronic device;

[0021] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the flexible display module.

[0022] Figure 3 This is a schematic structural diagram of the support layer in a flexible display module;

[0023] Figure 4 yes Figure 3 View from direction A;

[0024] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the support structure for the flexible display panel provided in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0025] Figure 6 yes Figure 5 View from direction B;

[0026] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the support structure provided in another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0027] Figure 8 yes Figure 7 The C-direction view;

[0028] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the support structure provided in another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0029] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of a support structure provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure when the second fiber filament includes a second bend.

[0030] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of a support structure provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure when the second fiber filament includes a plurality of second bends;

[0031] Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of the second support layer in a support structure provided in yet another embodiment of this disclosure;

[0032] Figure 13 This is a schematic diagram of a support structure provided in yet another embodiment of this disclosure;

[0033] Figure 14 This is an example diagram of a laminar structure with two first support layers provided in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0034] Figure 15 This is an example diagram of a laminar structure with two first support layers provided in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0035] Figure 16 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a display module provided in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0036] Figure 17 This is a block diagram of an electronic device provided in one embodiment of the present disclosure. Detailed Implementation

[0037] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this disclosure clearer, the disclosure will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The described embodiments should not be regarded as limitations on this disclosure. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this disclosure.

[0038] In the following description, references are made to “some embodiments,” which describe a subset of all possible embodiments. However, it is understood that “some embodiments” may be the same subset or different subsets of all possible embodiments and may be combined with each other without conflict.

[0039] In the following description, the terms “first, second, third” are used merely to distinguish similar objects and do not represent a specific ordering of objects. It is understood that “first, second, third” may be interchanged in a specific order or sequence where permitted, so that the embodiments of this disclosure described herein can be implemented in an order other than that illustrated or described herein.

[0040] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs. The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing embodiments of this disclosure only and is not intended to be limiting of this disclosure.

[0041] With the continuous development of display technology, foldable electronic devices are gradually becoming a development trend for future mobile electronic products. When unfolded, foldable electronic devices offer a larger display area, enhancing the viewing experience. When folded, they achieve a smaller size, making them easy for users to carry. Figure 1 A schematic structural diagram of a foldable electronic device is shown.

[0042] Figure 1 The foldable electronic device 100 can be a mobile phone, tablet computer, smartwatch, e-reader, laptop computer, wearable device, or other electronic device with folding function. The following description uses a foldable screen mobile phone as an example of the foldable electronic device 100.

[0043] See Figure 1 The foldable electronic device 100 includes a flexible display module 110 and a housing 120. The housing 120 forms a receiving space to accommodate various components such as the battery, motherboard, camera, and speaker in the mobile phone. The flexible display module 110 is also disposed in the receiving space formed by the housing 120 and connected to the housing 120.

[0044] Figure 2 The diagram shown is a structural schematic of the aforementioned flexible display module. The flexible display module is formed by stacking multiple flexible film layers. Figure 2 In the example, the flexible display module includes, from top to bottom, a flexible cover layer 111, a first optical adhesive layer 112, a polarizer layer 113, a second optical adhesive layer 114, a functional layer 115, a first pressure-sensitive adhesive layer 116, a backplate layer 117, a second pressure-sensitive adhesive layer 118, and a support layer 119.

[0045] The functional layer 115 may include an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) array or an active-matrix organic light-emitting diode (AMOLED) array, etc., where each diode or diode in the array can be driven to emit light for image display. The cover plate layer and polarizer layer above the functional layer are used to protect the display module and control the polarization direction of the light, respectively, while the backplate and support layer below it serve to support and protect it.

[0046] In the aforementioned flexible display module, the side of the functional layer closest to the cover layer is its light-emitting surface, and the side opposite to the light-emitting surface is the back side of the flexible display module. The back side of the flexible display module is located within the receiving space formed by the housing.

[0047] Revisit Figure 1 The housing 120 includes a first housing 121 and a second housing 122. The first housing 121 and the second housing 122 can rotate relative to the rotation axis. The first housing 121 and the second housing 122 can move closer to each other until the included angle is close to 0 degrees, at which time the foldable electronic device is in a folded state; the first housing 121 and the second housing 122 can also move further apart from each other until the included angle is close to 180 degrees, at which time the foldable device is in a fully unfolded state.

[0048] In some embodiments, a hinge mechanism is provided between the first housing 121 and the second housing 122 to support the rotation of the first housing and the second housing.

[0049] The aforementioned flexible display module includes a first display area A1, a second display area A2, and a third display area A3. The first and second display areas A1 and A2 are respectively disposed corresponding to the first housing 121 and the second housing 122, and can be connected to the first and second housings 121 and 122 via a back plate or support plate. The third display area A3 is located between the first and second display areas A1 and A2, and is disposed corresponding to the hinge mechanism. When the first and second housings 121 and 122 rotate, the first and second display areas A1 and A2 remain planar, while the third display area A3 bends as the angle between the first and second housings 121 and 122 changes.

[0050] The support layer possesses certain strength, rigidity, and relatively excellent bending performance, providing support for the flexible display screen 110, thereby helping to ensure the flatness and resistance to compression and impact of the flexible display screen. In the disclosed embodiment, the support layer can be bonded to the flexible backing plate via a second pressure-sensitive adhesive layer.

[0051] Figure 3 and Figure 4 The structure of the support layer 119 is shown. The support layer 119 includes a first support area B1, a second support area B2 and a third support area B3, which are respectively provided corresponding to the first display area A1, the second display area A2 and the third display area A3.

[0052] The first support area B1 and the second support area B2 are used to provide rigid support and improve the structural strength of the display module in the non-foldable area. The third support area B3 deforms during the folding process of the foldable device and is used to provide flexible support.

[0053] The aforementioned support layer 119 is typically made of materials such as stainless steel or titanium alloy. In the bending area (i.e., the third support area B3), a special structural design is used to reduce stiffness and make it bendable, while in the non-bending area (i.e., the first support area B1 and the second support area B2), it maintains high stiffness.

[0054] The technical solution for reducing the stiffness of the third support region B3 is described below, such as... Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, a recessed structure 1191, including through holes, blind holes, or grooves, can be provided in the third support area B3 to reduce rigidity and facilitate bending. At the same time, in order to avoid affecting the flatness of the support layer surface, adhesive material 1192 can be filled in the recessed structure after etching to flatten the recessed area.

[0055] The above method can effectively reduce the stiffness of the bending zone and facilitate bending, but there are still some problems in practical applications, which will be explained in detail below.

[0056] Firstly, foldable devices undergo frequent opening and closing during daily use, resulting in defects or stress concentrations at the edges created by etching or laser drilling in the bending area. With each bend, stress concentrates at the edges of these holes, and after repeated bending, these stress concentration points are subjected to alternating stress. When this stress exceeds the material's fatigue limit, fatigue failure occurs, causing cracks and fractures in the support layer. This defect can further damage other layers of the display module, affecting the display performance.

[0057] Secondly, the aforementioned recessed structures are usually filled with materials with low elastic modulus. Due to the difference in material properties between the filling material and the substrate of the support layer, the interface between the filling material and the substrate of the support layer will be affected with frequent folding. The adhesion performance between the filling material and other film layers (such as the back panel of the display module) may also decrease, causing the interaction between the two to change. Alternatively, during the stress process, the deformation of the filling material cannot effectively disperse the stress, but instead generates additional stress at the interface, resulting in excessive local stress on the screen and irreversible deformation, which in turn forms marks and affects the display effect.

[0058] Secondly, because the edge shape of the holes changes after the support plate is perforated, the support for the display module becomes uneven. If the pressure applied to the screen is too high, it may cause some display areas to fail, resulting in a deterioration in display quality and affecting the user's viewing experience.

[0059] This disclosure provides a support structure, a display module, and an electronic device to solve the aforementioned problems. The technical solutions of this disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0060] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the support structure for a flexible display panel provided in an embodiment of this disclosure. The support structure provided in this embodiment includes at least one first support layer and a second support layer stacked together. The number of first support layers can be one or more. Figure 5 This explanation is based on the example of a support structure 500 having a first support layer 510.

[0061] The first support layer 510 includes a first bending region 511 and a first non-bending region 512 located on at least one side of the first bending region 511. The first bending region 511 is disposed corresponding to the bendable area of ​​the flexible display panel, or in other words, when applied to a foldable electronic device, the first bending region 511 is disposed corresponding to the folding area of ​​the foldable electronic device.

[0062] The number of first non-bending areas 512 can be one or two. When only one first non-bending area 512 is included, the support structure 500 can be applied to electronic devices such as rollable screen phones. In such devices, the display area corresponding to the first non-bending area 512 remains flat or curved, and the display area corresponding to the first bending area 511 can be rolled up or unfolded around a pivot. When there are two first non-bending areas 512, the support structure 500 can be applied to electronic devices such as foldable screen phones. The display areas corresponding to the two first non-bending areas 512 can rotate towards or away from each other along a pivot, and the display area corresponding to the first bending area 511 can be rolled up or unfolded around the pivot.

[0063] Figure 6 yes Figure 5 The B-direction view, combined with Figure 5 and Figure 6 The first non-bending region 512 includes a first matrix material 5121 and a plurality of first fiber filaments 5122. The plurality of first fiber filaments 5122 are arranged in parallel, and the fiber extension direction of each first fiber filament 5122 is consistent with the axial direction of the bending axis of the support structure 500.

[0064] The aforementioned first matrix material 5121 can be a thermosetting resin material such as epoxy resin or phenolic resin, which has good adhesion and chemical stability. The first fiber filament 5122 can be, for example, carbon fiber filament. The aforementioned plurality of first fiber filaments 5122 can be wrapped by the first matrix material 5121. Taking epoxy resin and carbon fiber filament as examples, when epoxy resin impregnates carbon fiber filament, it penetrates into the tiny grooves and pores on the surface of carbon fiber filament. After the epoxy resin is cured, the carbon fiber filament can be tightly connected with the epoxy resin, thus enabling the first non-bending region 512 to have high stiffness.

[0065] A second matrix material 5111 is provided and filled in the first bending region 511 of the first support layer 510. The second matrix material 5111 can be the same as or have similar properties to the first matrix material 5121. Alternatively, to ensure the bending performance of the bending region, the second matrix material 5111 can be set as a material with a lower elastic modulus. Another possible implementation is that the second matrix material 5111 is the same as the first matrix material 5121, but the processing technology differs in different regions. Taking epoxy resin as an example, conventional processing technology (such as room temperature curing under vacuum) is used in the non-bending region, while a foaming agent is added to the epoxy resin in the bending region for room temperature foaming or heated foaming.

[0066] The first fiber filament 5122 in the first support layer 510 does not cover the bending area, making the stiffness of the first bending area 511 less than that of the second bending area.

[0067] The second support layer 520 includes a third matrix material 521 and a plurality of second fiber filaments 522, wherein the fiber extension direction of the second fiber filaments 522 is different from the fiber extension direction of the first fiber filaments 5122. For example, the extension direction of the second fiber filaments 522 may be perpendicular to the fiber extension direction of the first fiber filaments 5122, and this direction may also be referred to as the width direction of the support structure 500. Similar to the aforementioned first fiber filaments 5122, the second fiber filaments 522 may be, for example, carbon fiber, aramid fiber, or glass fiber.

[0068] The second fiber filament 522 in the second support layer 520 is wrapped by the third matrix material 521. The third matrix material 521 can be a heat-fixing resin material such as epoxy resin. Similar to the first support layer 510 mentioned above, the interaction between the second fiber filament 522 and the third matrix material 521 gives the second support layer 520 a certain rigidity.

[0069] exist Figure 5 and Figure 6In the illustrated technical solution, because the fiber direction of the multiple first fibers in the first non-bending area of ​​the first support layer is consistent with the axial direction, the stiffness of the first non-bending area in the direction parallel to the axial direction is greater than the stiffness in the direction perpendicular to the axial direction. The fiber extension direction of the second fibers in the second support layer is different from that of the first fibers, which can improve the stiffness in the direction perpendicular to the axial direction. Under the combined action of the first and second fibers, the area of ​​the support structure corresponding to the first non-bending area has greater stiffness in all directions. Simultaneously, because no first fibers are provided in the first bending area, the stiffness of this area is relatively small, thus meeting the usage requirements of the foldable display module.

[0070] Therefore, in the support structure formed by the stacking of the first and second support layers, the stiffness of the non-bending region corresponding to the first non-bending region is greater than the stiffness of the bending region corresponding to the first bending region. When this support structure is applied to a flexible display panel, it can provide support for each functional film layer in the display module while possessing good bending performance; at the same time, since there is no need to slot or open in the bending region, the probability of defects such as imprints is reduced, and the compressive and impact resistance of the display module is greatly improved.

[0071] In some embodiments, the fiber extension direction of the second fiber is perpendicular to the fiber extension direction of the first fiber. This increases the stiffness of the non-bending region.

[0072] exist Figure 5 and Figure 6 In the technical solution shown, a first fiber filament is provided in the first non-bending area, while the first bending area is filled with a second matrix material. The stiffness of the two areas is different, thus forming a stiffness variation interface between the two areas.

[0073] This disclosure also provides a support structure that enables a smooth change in stiffness between the first bending region and the first non-bending region. Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the support structure 700 provided in another embodiment of this disclosure. Figure 8 yes Figure 7 The C-direction view. For example... Figure 7 and Figure 8 As shown, the first bending region 511 also includes at least one first transition region 5112, which is close to the first non-bending region 512.

[0074] It is understood that the aforementioned first transition region 5112 is correspondingly provided with the first non-bending region 512. When the first support layer 510 includes a first non-bending region 512, the number of first transition regions 5112 is one, and this first transition region 5112 is located close to the first non-bending region 512. In the case where the first support layer 510 is as follows... Figure 5-8When any of the above includes two first non-bending regions 512, there are two first transition regions 5112, and the first transition regions 5112 are spaced apart on both sides of the first bending region 511. As one implementation, the two first transition regions 5112 are symmetrically arranged with respect to the bending axis.

[0075] A plurality of third fiber filaments 5113 are provided in the first transition zone 5112, and the fiber extension direction of the plurality of third fiber filaments 5113 is the same as the fiber extension direction of the aforementioned first fiber filament 5122.

[0076] The technical solution of this embodiment is to set a first transition region with moderate rigidity between the first non-bending region 512 and the first bending region 511, which have a large difference in rigidity. In other words, by setting a third fiber filament 5113 in the first transition region 5112, the toughness of the region can be improved.

[0077] In this embodiment of the disclosure, the third fiber 5113 may be made of a different material than the first fiber 5122. For example, if the first fiber 5122 is made of carbon fiber, the third fiber 5113 may be made of a material with weaker mechanical properties than carbon fiber, such as aramid fiber or glass fiber.

[0078] It is also understood that the stiffness of the synthetic material formed by the fiber filaments and the matrix material used in the technical solution of this disclosure is related to the arrangement density of the fiber filaments. The greater the arrangement density of the fiber filaments, the greater the stiffness of the synthetic material.

[0079] Therefore, in this embodiment of the disclosure, the fiber arrangement density in the first transition region 5112 can also be set to be less than the fiber arrangement density in the first non-bending region 512. That is, the arrangement density of the plurality of third fiber filaments 5113 is less than the arrangement density of the plurality of first fiber filaments, so that the stiffness of the first transition region 5112 is less than the stiffness of the first non-bending region 512.

[0080] It is also understandable that the two methods of reducing stiffness mentioned above can be used alone or in combination, that is, reducing the mechanical properties of the fiber filaments while reducing the fiber filament arrangement density, thereby achieving the purpose of controlling the stiffness of the transition zone.

[0081] In some embodiments, the arrangement density of the plurality of third fibers 5113 gradually decreases along the direction from the first non-bending region 512 toward the first bending region 511. This allows the stiffness of the first transition region 5112 to exhibit a linear change trend, resulting in a smooth change in the stiffness of the support structure 700 along the direction perpendicular to the bending axis. This avoids unpredictable failures such as fractures caused by the presence of stiffness change interfaces in the support structure 500 during long-term use, as described in the aforementioned technical solution.

[0082] As described above, the combination of the second fiber filament and the third matrix material in the second support layer provides stiffness along the width direction for the support structure. Since the second fiber filament penetrates the bending area along the width direction, the bending area also has a certain stiffness. In some scenarios, such as when the bending radius or bending angle of the flexible display module using this support structure is small, it is necessary to further reduce the stiffness of the bending area of ​​the second support layer.

[0083] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the support structure 900 provided in another embodiment of this disclosure. The technical solution provided in this embodiment can further reduce the stiffness of the bending region. Figure 9 As shown, the second support layer 520 includes a second bending region 523 that is disposed corresponding to the first bending region 511.

[0084] At least a portion of the second fiber filaments 522 in the second support layer 520 have a cut-off portion 5221, and the cut-off portion 5221 is located in the second bending region 523. The aforementioned at least a portion of the second fiber filaments 522 may be a portion of the multiple second fiber filaments 522, or it may be all of the multiple second fiber filaments 522.

[0085] When the second fiber 522 is intact and uniformly distributed in the matrix, it can effectively bear external loads and transfer stress throughout the material, thus giving the material high stiffness. However, when some of the second fiber 522 is cut off, the material's load-bearing capacity and stress transfer path change. During stress transmission, stress cannot be smoothly transferred through the cut fiber filaments, but instead relies more on the matrix material and the remaining intact fiber filaments. The matrix material has relatively low strength and modulus, and its ability to transfer stress is limited. Therefore, the material's overall resistance to deformation decreases, and its stiffness also decreases.

[0086] In some embodiments, the cut portion 5221 of at least a portion of the second fiber filament 522 is symmetrical with respect to the bending axis; or, when the support structure 900 is in a horizontally deployed state, the cut portion 5221 is symmetrical with respect to the vertical tangential plane where the bending axis is located. This enables a symmetrical stiffness distribution on both sides of the bending region.

[0087] In some embodiments, along the thickness direction of the support structure 900, the lengths of the cut portions 5221 of at least some of the second fiber filaments 522 are distributed according to a predetermined pattern. For example, along the bottom-up direction, the lengths of the cut portions 5221 increase or decrease sequentially, or the lengths of the cut portions 5221 first gradually increase and then gradually decrease.

[0088] In some embodiments, along the width direction of the support structure, the length of the cut-off portion 5221 is greater than or equal to the width of the second bending region 523.

[0089] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of a support structure 1000 provided in another embodiment of this disclosure. For example... Figure 10 As shown, the second support layer 520 includes a second bending region 523 that is disposed corresponding to the first bending region 511.

[0090] At least a portion of the plurality of second fiber filaments 522 have at least one first bent portion 5222, and at least one bent portion 5222 is disposed within the second bend 523 region.

[0091] The first curved portion 5222 includes a protruding structure formed by bending in a direction perpendicular to and away from the second support layer 520; this first curved portion 5222 can also be referred to as the length redundancy of the second fiber filament 522. The longer the redundancy, the smaller the stiffness of the composite material in the region. That is, the larger the first dimension along the width direction and the second dimension along the thickness direction of the first curved portion 5222, the smaller the stiffness of the bending region.

[0092] The shape of the first curved portion 5222 could be, for example, Figure 10 The arch or semicircle shown in the image.

[0093] Preferably, the curvature of the first curved portion 5222 is continuous.

[0094] By setting this first bending section, the tension provided by the multiple second fibers can be small or non-existent in the initial stage of bending, which can effectively reduce the rigidity of the bending area to facilitate bending.

[0095] In some embodiments, such as Figure 10 As shown, the number of first bending portions 5222 can be one, and the first bending portion 5222 is symmetrical with respect to the bending axis. The symmetrical arrangement of the first bending portions 5222 can ensure that the stiffness distribution of the bending area is uniform on both sides of the bending axis.

[0096] In some embodiments, see Figure 11 The number of the above-mentioned at least one curved portion 5222 is multiple, and the multiple first curved portions 5222 are symmetrical with respect to the bending axis.

[0097] The stiffness of the bending region is related to the third dimension along the width direction and the fourth dimension along the thickness direction of each first bending portion 5222 (or length redundancy). The smaller the period of redundancy and the longer the redundancy length, the smaller the stiffness of the fiber composite material in the region (i.e., the bending region). In other words, the smaller the third dimension, the smaller the stiffness, and the larger the fourth dimension, the smaller the stiffness.

[0098] Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of a support structure provided in yet another embodiment of this disclosure. Figure 12 The planar structure of the second support layer 520 is shown. Figure 12 As shown, the second support layer 520 includes a second bending region 523 that is disposed corresponding to the first bending region.

[0099] At least a portion of the second fiber filaments 522 in the second support layer 520 have a second bent portion 5223, wherein at least a portion of the second fiber filaments 522 may be part or all of the second fiber filaments 522 in the second support layer 520.

[0100] The aforementioned second curved portion 5223 is a second protruding structure formed by bending along the extension direction of the bending axis; that is, the second protruding structure is formed on a surface parallel to any surface of the second support layer 520. In embodiments of this disclosure, the shape of the second curved portion 5223 may be, for example, Figure 12 The shape shown is an arch or arc.

[0101] Preferably, the curvature of the second curved portion 5223 is continuous.

[0102] In the above-described technical solution provided in the embodiments of this disclosure, the second bending portion of the second fiber can break the directionality of the fiber in the second bending area, thereby reducing the stiffness of the second bending area to facilitate bending.

[0103] In some embodiments, such as Figure 13 As shown, to reduce the rigidity of the bending region, a plurality of fourth fiber filaments 5141 can be provided in the first bending region 511 of the first support layer 510. These plurality of fourth fiber filaments 5141 form at least one fourth fiber filament group 514. The fiber arrangement direction of the fourth fiber filaments 5141 in each fourth fiber filament group 514 is consistent, and the angle between the fourth fiber filaments 5141 and the axis of the bending axis is an acute angle. By adjusting the arrangement direction of the fiber filaments in the bending region to be different from the main force direction, the rigidity of the bending region can be effectively reduced.

[0104] The present disclosure does not limit the specific type of the fourth fiber filament 5141. The fourth fiber filament 5141 can be any one or a combination of carbon fiber, aramid fiber or glass fiber.

[0105] This disclosure does not limit the specific number of at least one fourth fiber filament group 514, for example, Figure 13 In the first bending zone, there are three groups of fourth fiber filaments.

[0106] It is understood that the foregoing embodiments are all described using the example of a support structure comprising a first support layer 510 and a second support layer 520 stacked together.

[0107] In some embodiments, the support structure may include two first support layers 510, a second support layer 520 stacked on top of the two first support layers 510, and the second support layer 520 located between the two first support layers 510.

[0108] When the support structure includes two first support layers 510, the structures of the two first support layers 510 can be the same or different. For example Figure 14 One of the two first support layers 510 in the support structure 1400 shown is Figure 7 The first support layer shown has a first transition zone, and the other first support layer is... Figure 5 The first support layer shown in the figure; for example Figure 15 Both first support layers 510 in the support structure 1500 shown can be configured as follows: Figure 7 The first transition zone shown, or both of the first support layers can be... Figure 5 The first support layer is shown.

[0109] According to the above-mentioned technical means, by setting two first support layers, the structural strength of the support structure can be improved, thereby improving the compressive and impact resistance of the display module.

[0110] In some embodiments, the modulus of the first matrix material is greater than that of the second and third matrix materials. The first matrix material is primarily applied to the first non-bending region of the first support layer, while the second matrix material is applied to the first bending region. The modulus of the matrix material in the first non-bending region is set to be greater than that in the first bending region. The second matrix material with a smaller modulus provides better bending performance, while the matrix material with a larger modulus improves the stiffness of the non-bending region. The third matrix material is primarily used in the second support layer. Setting the modulus of the third matrix material in the second support layer to be smaller reduces the stiffness of the bending region.

[0111] In the second and third matrix materials, the modulus of the matrix material closer to the bending axis is lower than that of the matrix material farther from the bending axis. This is because the second and third matrix materials experience different forces during bending. More specifically, the matrix material closer to the bending axis is under compression, while the matrix material farther from the bending axis is under tension. Setting the second and third matrix materials differently optimizes the stress in the bending area, thereby avoiding display abnormalities caused by material deformation.

[0112] Figure 16 This is a schematic structural diagram of a display module 1600 provided in an embodiment of this disclosure. Figure 16 The display module 1600 includes a flexible display screen 1610, which has a display surface. The structure of the flexible display screen can be found in the previous section. Figure 2 The explanation will not be repeated here.

[0113] The display module 1610 also includes a support structure 1620, which can be the support structure described in any of the embodiments above, and the support structure is disposed on the side of the flexible display screen away from the display surface.

[0114] In some embodiments, the flexible display screen is bonded to the surface of the support structure via a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer.

[0115] This disclosure also provides a foldable electronic device, which may include mobile phones, tablets, laptops, wearable devices, and other electronic devices with foldable flexible displays. The electronic device includes a housing and a display module. The structure of the electronic device can be found in [reference needed]. Figure 1 .

[0116] The housing includes a first housing, a second housing, and a rotating shaft assembly. The first housing and the second housing are respectively connected to the rotating shaft assembly, and the first housing and the second housing can rotate with the rotating shaft assembly; the detailed structure of the rotating shaft assembly is within the understanding of those skilled in the art and will not be described in detail here.

[0117] The display module includes a flexible display screen and a support structure, which can be the support structure described in any of the embodiments above. The display module is connected to the first housing and the second housing respectively and spans the pivot assembly. The display module can be folded or flattened as the first housing and the second housing rotate relative to each other.

[0118] Figure 17 This is a block diagram of an electronic device provided in another embodiment of the present disclosure. The electronic device in this embodiment may be a mobile phone, game console, wearable device, virtual reality device, personal digital assistant, laptop computer, tablet computer, or television terminal, etc.

[0119] The electronic device 1700 of this disclosure embodiment may include one or more of the following components: a processing component 1710, a memory 1720, a power supply component 1730, a multimedia component 1740, an audio component 1750, an input / output (I / O) interface 1760, a sensor component 1770, and a communication component 1780.

[0120] Processing component 1710 typically controls the overall operation of electronic device 1700, such as operations associated with display, telephone calls, data communication, camera operation, and recording operations. Processing component 1710 may include one or more processors 1711. Furthermore, processing component 1710 may include one or more modules to facilitate interaction between processing component 1710 and other components. For example, processing component 1710 may include a multimedia module to facilitate interaction between multimedia component 1740 and processing component 1710.

[0121] Memory 1720 is configured to store various types of data to support the operation of device 1700. Examples of this data include instructions for any application or method operating on electronic device 1700, contact data, phonebook data, messages, pictures, videos, etc. Memory 1720 can be implemented by any type of volatile or non-volatile storage device or a combination thereof, such as static random access memory (SRAM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), read-only memory (ROM), magnetic storage, flash memory, magnetic disk, or optical disk.

[0122] Power supply assembly 1730 provides power to various components of electronic device 1700. Power supply assembly 1730 may include a power management system, one or more power supplies, and other components associated with generating, managing, and distributing power to electronic device 1700.

[0123] The multimedia component 1740 includes a screen 1741 that provides an output interface between the electronic device 1700 and the user. The screen 1741 includes the support structure described in any of the foregoing embodiments, or the screen 1741 is the aforementioned display module 1500.

[0124] In some embodiments, the screen may include a liquid crystal display (LCD) and a touch panel (TP). If the screen includes a touch panel, the screen may be implemented as a touchscreen to receive input signals from a user. The touch panel includes one or more touch sensors to sense touches, swipes, and gestures on the touch panel. The touch sensors may sense not only the boundaries of a touch or swipe action but also the duration and pressure associated with the touch or swipe operation. In some embodiments, the multimedia component 1740 includes a front-facing camera and / or a rear-facing camera. When the device 1700 is in an operating mode, such as a shooting mode or a video mode, the front-facing camera and / or the rear-facing camera may receive external multimedia data. Each front-facing camera and rear-facing camera may be a fixed optical lens system or have focal length and optical zoom capabilities.

[0125] Audio component 1750 is configured to output and / or input audio signals. For example, audio component 1750 includes a microphone (MIC) configured to receive external audio signals when electronic device 1700 is in an operating mode, such as call mode, recording mode, and voice recognition mode. The received audio signals may be further stored in memory 1720 or transmitted via communication component 1780. In some embodiments, audio component 1750 also includes a speaker for outputting audio signals.

[0126] I / O interface 1760 provides an interface between processing component 1710 and peripheral interface modules, such as keyboards, click wheels, buttons, etc. These buttons may include, but are not limited to, home buttons, volume buttons, power buttons, and lock buttons. These buttons utilize the button module 200 described in the foregoing embodiments.

[0127] Sensor assembly 1770 includes one or more sensors for providing state assessments of various aspects of electronic device 1700. For example, sensor assembly 1770 may detect the on / off state of device 1700, the relative positioning of components such as the display and keypad of electronic device 1700, changes in position of electronic device 1700 or a component of electronic device 1700, the presence or absence of user contact with electronic device 1700, the orientation or acceleration / deceleration of electronic device 1700, and temperature changes of electronic device 1700. Sensor assembly 1770 may include a proximity sensor configured to detect the presence of nearby objects without any physical contact. Sensor assembly 1770 may also include a light sensor, such as a CMOS or CCD image sensor, for use in imaging applications. In some embodiments, sensor assembly 1770 may also include an accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer, pressure sensor, or temperature sensor.

[0128] Communication component 1780 is configured to facilitate wired or wireless communication between electronic device 1700 and other devices. Electronic device 1700 can access wireless networks based on communication standards, such as Wi-Fi, 2G, or 3G, or combinations thereof. In one exemplary embodiment, communication component 1780 receives broadcast signals or broadcast-related information from an external broadcast management system via a broadcast channel. In one exemplary embodiment, communication component 1780 also includes a near-field communication (NFC) module to facilitate short-range communication. For example, the NFC module may be implemented based on radio frequency identification (RFID) technology, Infrared Data Association (IrDA) technology, ultra-wideband (UWB) technology, Bluetooth (BT) technology, and other technologies.

[0129] In an exemplary embodiment, the electronic device 1900 may be implemented by one or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), digital signal processors (DSPs), digital signal processing devices (DSPDs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), controllers, microcontrollers, microprocessors, or other electronic components.

[0130] In embodiments of this disclosure, the electronic device may be a mobile phone, game console, wearable device, virtual reality device, personal digital assistant, laptop, tablet computer, or television terminal, etc.

[0131] It is understood that in this disclosure, "multiple" refers to two or more, and other quantifiers are similar. "And / or" describes the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A alone, A and B simultaneously, and B alone. The character " / " generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects are in an "or" relationship. The singular forms "a," "the," and "the" are also intended to include the plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0132] It is further understood that the terms "first," "second," etc., are used to describe various types of information, but this information should not be limited to these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish information of the same type from one another, and do not indicate a specific order or degree of importance. In fact, the expressions "first," "second," etc., are completely interchangeable. For example, without departing from the scope of this disclosure, first information can also be referred to as second information, and similarly, second information can also be referred to as first information.

[0133] It is further understood that the terms “center,” “longitudinal,” “lateral,” “front,” “rear,” “up,” “down,” “left,” “right,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” “top,” “bottom,” “inner,” and “outer,” etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this embodiment 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.

[0134] It can be further understood that, unless otherwise specified, "connection" includes both direct connections where no other components exist between the two parties and indirect connections where other components exist between them.

[0135] Other embodiments of this disclosure will readily occur to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. This disclosure is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of this disclosure that follow the general principles of this disclosure and include common knowledge or customary techniques in the art not disclosed herein. The specification and examples are to be considered exemplary only, and the true scope and spirit of this disclosure are indicated by the claims.

[0136] It should be understood that this disclosure is not limited to the precise structures described above and shown in the accompanying drawings, and various modifications and changes can be made without departing from its scope. The scope of this disclosure is limited only by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A support structure, characterized in that, Includes at least one first support layer and a second support layer stacked together; The first support layer includes a first bending region and a first non-bending region located on at least one side of the first bending region; The first non-bending area includes a first matrix material and a plurality of first fibers, wherein the fiber extension direction of the first fibers is consistent with the axial direction of the bending axis of the support structure, and the first bending area includes a second matrix material. The second support layer includes a third matrix material and a plurality of second fibers, wherein the fiber extension direction of the second fibers is different from that of the first fibers.

2. The support structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first bending region includes at least one first transition region, which is adjacent to the first non-bending region; The first transition zone is provided with a plurality of third fiber filaments, and the fiber extension direction of the third fiber filaments is the same as that of the first fiber filaments. The third fiber is made of a different material than the first fiber, and / or the arrangement density of the plurality of third fibers is less than the arrangement density of the plurality of first fibers.

3. The support structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The second support layer includes a second bending area, which is provided corresponding to the first bending area; At least a portion of the plurality of second fibers have a cut-off portion located in the second bending region.

4. The support structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The second support layer includes a second bending area, which is provided corresponding to the first bending area; At least a portion of the plurality of second fibers have at least one first bent portion, the first bent portion comprising bending in a direction perpendicular to and away from the second support layer to form a first protrusion structure; The at least one curved portion is located in the second bending area.

5. The support structure according to claim 4, characterized in that, The number of the at least one first curved portion is one, and the first curved portion is symmetrical with respect to the bending axis; or... The number of the at least one first bending portion is multiple, and the multiple first bending portions are arranged symmetrically with respect to the bending axis.

6. The support structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The second support layer includes a second bending area, which is provided corresponding to the first bending area; At least a portion of the plurality of second fibers have a second bent portion, the second bent portion including a second protrusion structure formed by bending along the extension direction of the bending axis; The second curved portion is located in the second bending area.

7. The support structure according to claim 6, characterized in that, The first bending region includes a plurality of fourth fiber filaments, the plurality of fourth fiber filaments including at least one group of fourth fiber filaments, wherein the fiber arrangement direction of the plurality of fourth fiber filaments in each group of fourth fiber filaments is consistent and the angle between the fiber arrangement direction and the axial direction of the bending axis is an acute angle.

8. The support structure according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that, The support structure includes two first support layers, and a second support layer is stacked on top of the two first support layers, with the second support layer located between the two first support layers.

9. The support structure according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that, The modulus of the first matrix material is greater than that of the second matrix material and the third matrix material; Of the second matrix material and the third matrix material, the modulus of the matrix material closer to the bending axis is less than the modulus of the matrix material farther from the bending axis.

10. A display module, characterized in that, include: A flexible display screen having a display surface; The support structure as described in any one of claims 1-9 is disposed on the side of the flexible display screen opposite to the display surface.

11. An electronic device, characterized in that, The electronic device includes: case; The display module as described in claim 10; The housing includes a first housing, a second housing, and a rotating shaft assembly; The first housing and the second housing are respectively connected to the rotating shaft assembly, and the first housing and the second housing are configured to rotate relative to the rotating shaft assembly; The display module is connected to the first housing and the second housing respectively and spans the pivot assembly. The display module is configured to fold or flatten with the relative rotation of the first housing and the second housing.

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