Flexible screen and foldable electronic device

Abstract

The present application provides a flexible screen and a foldable electronic device. The foldable electronic device comprises: a housing; and a flexible screen comprising a cover plate and a display layer which are arranged in a stacked manner, wherein the display layer comprises a bending area and a non-bending area, the cover plate comprises a flexible part and a rigid part, the flexible part corresponds to the bending area, the rigid part corresponds to the non-bending area, and the rigid part is fixedly connected to the housing. The technical solution can achieve a narrow bezel visual design and increase a screen-to-body ratio, so as to improve the user look and feel experience.

Description

Flexible screens and foldable electronic devices

[0001] This application claims priority to the Chinese patent application filed with the State Intellectual Property Office of China on November 15, 2023, with application number 202311527832.4 and invention name “Flexible Screen and Foldable Electronic Device”, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference into this application. Technical Field

[0002] The present application relates to the technical field of electronic devices, and more specifically, to a flexible screen and a foldable electronic device. Background Art

[0003] Foldable electronic devices are a popular product, gaining increasing support from users due to their practicality. Specifically, foldable electronic devices can switch between a folded state and an unfolded state, providing a larger display area in the unfolded state and occupying a smaller space in the folded state.

[0004] With the continuous development of technology, users are increasingly demanding a higher screen-to-body ratio for foldable electronic devices in pursuit of a better viewing experience. However, current foldable electronic devices generally suffer from large black borders, which reduces the screen-to-body ratio of the display and results in a poor user experience.

[0005] Summary of the Invention

[0006] The present application provides a flexible screen and a foldable electronic device that can achieve a small-frame visual design and an increase in screen-to-body ratio, thereby enhancing the user's viewing experience.

[0007] In a first aspect, a foldable electronic device is provided, comprising: a shell; a flexible screen, the flexible screen comprising a cover plate and a display layer arranged in a stacked manner, the display layer comprising a bending area and a non-bending area, the cover plate comprising a flexible portion and a rigid portion, wherein the flexible portion corresponds to the bending area, the rigid portion corresponds to the non-bending area, and the rigid portion is fixedly connected to the shell.

[0008] In this application, the cover is a combination of soft and hard forms. The flexible part can be bent, and the rigid part is used to be fixedly connected to the shell. No additional components are required for fixation. This can avoid the visual impact of large black borders caused by additional components, achieve a small border visual design and increase the screen-to-body ratio, thereby improving the user's viewing experience.

[0009] Since the rigid part is connected to the shell, there is no obvious slippage between the cover and the shell during the folding of the flexible screen, and the edge of the cover does not obviously warp, which can reduce the entry of dust and protect the edge of the screen.

[0010] In combination with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, the minimum bending angle of the rigid portion is greater than 90°; and / or the minimum bending angle of the flexible portion is less than or equal to 0°.

[0011] In combination with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, a bending radius of the rigid portion is greater than a bending radius of the flexible portion.

[0012] In this way, the rigid part of the cover plate has greater rigidity and is not easy to bend or arch, which is conducive to fixed connection with the shell; the flexible part of the cover plate has greater flexibility and does not affect the folding and unfolding of the flexible screen.

[0013] In combination with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, the rigid portion is bonded and fixed to the shell.

[0014] Adhesive is used to bond the cover and the housing, which is simple, fast, efficient and has stable performance.

[0015] In combination with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the shell includes a middle frame, and the rigid part is fixedly connected to the middle frame; and / or the shell includes a frame, and the rigid part is fixedly connected to the frame.

[0016] In combination with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, the foldable electronic device also includes a connecting mechanism, the shell includes a first shell and a second shell, the first shell and the second shell are respectively rotatably connected to the connecting mechanism, the position of the flexible part corresponds to the position of the connecting mechanism, and the rigid part is connected to the first shell and the second shell.

[0017] The position of the flexible part corresponds to the position of the connecting mechanism and does not affect the folding and unfolding of the flexible screen.

[0018] In combination with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the back surface of the flexible screen is bonded to the housing.

[0019] Since the rigid part of the cover plate has better rigidity, it can reduce the local tension concentration on the screen caused by the glue on the back of the non-bending area of ​​the flexible screen, and then reduce the light and shadow mutation defects caused by the local tension concentration on the screen.

[0020] In combination with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, the back surface of the flexible screen is not bonded to the housing.

[0021] By reducing the use of adhesives, local tension concentration on the screen caused by gluing on the back of the non-bending area of ​​the flexible screen can be avoided, thereby avoiding the sudden change of light and shadow defects caused by local tension concentration on the screen.

[0022] In combination with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, a thickness of the flexible portion is smaller than a thickness of the rigid portion.

[0023] The flexible portion and the rigid portion are formed by partially reducing the thickness of the cover plate. The thickness of the flexible portion is relatively small, and a bending function can be achieved.

[0024] In combination with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, the cover plate is made of any one of the following materials: glass, light-transmitting resin.

[0025] In combination with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, a groove is formed between the flexible portion and the rigid portion in the thickness direction of the flexible screen, and the display layer is provided with a protrusion, wherein the protrusion is embedded in the groove.

[0026] In combination with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, a groove is formed between the flexible portion and the rigid portion in a thickness direction of the flexible screen, wherein the groove is filled with a flexible material.

[0027] In this way, the smoothness of the display effect can be improved.

[0028] In combination with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the flexible portion includes a first material, the rigid portion includes a second material, and the first material is different from the second material.

[0029] The cover plate can be made of a variety of materials, which is conducive to ensuring the bendability of the flexible part and the good rigidity of the rigid part at the same time.

[0030] In combination with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the first material is a flexible material; and / or the second material is a rigid material.

[0031] In this way, the rigid part of the cover plate has greater rigidity, which is conducive to fixed connection with the shell; the flexible part of the cover plate has greater flexibility and does not affect the folding and unfolding of the flexible screen.

[0032] In combination with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the first material includes at least one of the following materials: polypropylene, polyethylene, polyimide, polyamide, polyester resin, thermoplastic polyurethane; and / or the second material includes at least one of the following materials: glass, light-transmitting resin.

[0033] In combination with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, the surface of the flexible part facing the rigid part in the first direction is connected to the surface of the rigid part facing the flexible part in the first direction, wherein the first direction is perpendicular to the thickness direction of the flexible screen and perpendicular to the folding axis of the flexible screen.

[0034] In this way, there is no need to add additional film layers, which is conducive to reducing the stacking thickness of the flexible screen.

[0035] In combination with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the flexible screen further includes a connecting layer, which is stacked with the cover plate, wherein the flexible portion is connected to the connecting layer, and the rigid portion is connected to the connecting layer.

[0036] In this way, the rigid part and the flexible part are connected through the connection layer, which can increase the contact area and ensure the reliability of the connection.

[0037] In combination with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, the material of the connecting layer is ultra-thin glass or optical resin.

[0038] In combination with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the connection layer is disposed between the cover plate and the display layer; or, the cover plate is disposed between the connection layer and the display layer.

[0039] In combination with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the cover plate is disposed on one side of the light emitting surface of the display layer.

[0040] In a second aspect, a flexible screen is provided, comprising a stacked cover plate and a display layer, the display layer comprising a bending area and a non-bending area, the cover plate comprising a flexible portion and a rigid portion, the flexible portion corresponding to the bending area, and the rigid portion corresponding to the non-bending area.

[0041] In this application, the cover is a combination of soft and hard forms. The flexible part can be bent and the rigid part has good rigidity. It can be used for connection and fixation, which is conducive to achieving a small frame visual design and an increase in the screen-to-body ratio, thereby enhancing the user's viewing experience.

[0042] In combination with the second aspect, in certain implementations of the second aspect, a designed bending angle of the rigid portion is less than 90°; and / or a designed bending angle of the flexible portion is greater than or equal to 180°.

[0043] In combination with the second aspect, in certain implementations of the second aspect, a bending radius of the rigid portion is greater than a bending radius of the flexible portion.

[0044] In combination with the second aspect, in certain implementations of the second aspect, a thickness of the flexible portion is smaller than a thickness of the rigid portion.

[0045] In combination with the second aspect, in certain implementations of the second aspect, the cover plate is made of any one of the following materials: glass, light-transmitting resin.

[0046] In combination with the second aspect, in certain implementations of the second aspect, a groove is formed between the flexible portion and the rigid portion in the thickness direction of the flexible screen, and the display layer is provided with a protrusion, wherein the protrusion is embedded in the groove.

[0047] In combination with the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, a groove is formed between the flexible portion and the rigid portion in a thickness direction of the flexible screen, wherein the groove is filled with a flexible material.

[0048] In combination with the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the flexible portion includes a first material, the rigid portion includes a second material, and the first material is different from the second material.

[0049] In combination with the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the first material is a flexible material; and / or the second material is a rigid material.

[0050] In combination with the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the first material includes at least one of the following materials: polypropylene, polyethylene, polyimide, polyamide, polyester resin, thermoplastic polyurethane; and / or the second material includes at least one of the following materials: glass, light-transmitting resin.

[0051] In combination with the second aspect, in certain implementations of the second aspect, the surface of the flexible part facing the rigid part in the first direction is connected to the surface of the rigid part facing the flexible part in the first direction, wherein the first direction is perpendicular to the thickness direction of the flexible screen and perpendicular to the folding axis of the flexible screen.

[0052] In combination with the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the flexible screen further includes a connecting layer, which is stacked with the cover plate, wherein the flexible portion is connected to the connecting layer, and the rigid portion is connected to the connecting layer.

[0053] In combination with the second aspect, in certain implementations of the second aspect, the material of the connecting layer is ultra-thin glass or optical resin.

[0054] In combination with the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the connection layer is disposed between the cover plate and the display layer; or, the cover plate is disposed between the connection layer and the display layer.

[0055] In combination with the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the cover plate is disposed on one side of the light emitting surface of the display layer. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0056] FIG1 is a schematic structural diagram of a foldable electronic device applicable to an embodiment of the present application.

[0057] FIG2 is an exploded schematic diagram of the foldable electronic device in FIG1 .

[0058] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of two possible folding states of the foldable electronic device in FIG. 1 .

[0059] FIG4 is a schematic structural diagram of a flexible screen provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0060] FIG5 is a schematic diagram of a flexible screen fixing solution for an existing foldable electronic product.

[0061] FIG6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a foldable electronic device provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0062] FIG7 is a schematic structural diagram of a cover plate provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0063] FIG8 is a schematic structural diagram of a flexible screen provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0064] Figure 9 is a schematic structural diagram of another flexible screen provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0065] Figure 10 is a schematic structural diagram of another flexible screen provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0066] Figure 11 is a schematic structural diagram of another flexible screen provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0067] Figure 12 is a schematic structural diagram of another flexible screen provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0068] The technical solution in this application will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0069] It should be noted that, in the description of the embodiments of the present application, unless otherwise specified, “ / ” means or, for example, A / B can mean A or B; “and / or” in this article is merely a way to describe the association relationship of associated objects, indicating that three relationships may exist, for example, A and / or B can mean: A exists alone, A and B exist at the same time, and B exists alone.

[0070] In the embodiments of the present application, the terms "first", "second", etc. are used for descriptive purposes only and are not to be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of the indicated technical features. Thus, features defined as "first", "second", etc. may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the features. In addition, in the description of the embodiments of the present application, "multiple" refers to two or more than two, and "at least one" and "one or more" refer to one, two or more. The singular expressions "a", "a", "said", "above", "the", and "this" are intended to also include expressions such as "one or more", unless there is a clear indication to the contrary in the context.

[0071] References to "one embodiment" or "some embodiments" in this specification mean that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in conjunction with that embodiment is included in one or more embodiments of the present application. Thus, phrases such as "in one embodiment," "in some embodiments," "in other embodiments," and "in yet other embodiments" appearing in various places in this specification do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, but rather mean "one or more but not all embodiments," unless otherwise specifically emphasized. The terms "including," "comprising," "having," and variations thereof mean "including but not limited to," unless otherwise specifically emphasized.

[0072] In the description of the embodiments of the present application, the terms "up", "down", "left", "right", "inside", "outside", "vertical", "horizontal", etc. indicate orientations or positional relationships that are defined relative to the orientations or positions of the components schematically placed in the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that these directional terms are relative concepts. They are used for relative descriptions and clarifications, rather than indicating or implying that the device or component referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. They may change accordingly according to changes in the orientation of the components placed in the accompanying drawings, and therefore cannot be understood as limitations on the present application. In addition, the "vertical" involved in the present application is not vertical in the strict sense, but is within the allowable error range. The "parallel" is not parallel in the strict sense, but is within the allowable error range.

[0073] In the embodiments of this application, the same reference numerals are used to represent the same components or parts. For identical parts or parts in the embodiments of this application, only one of the parts or parts may be labeled with a reference numeral in the figures as an example. It should be understood that the same reference numerals apply to the other identical parts or parts. In addition, the components in the drawings are not drawn to scale, and the sizes and dimensions of the components shown in the drawings are for illustrative purposes only and should not be construed as limiting the present application.

[0074] For ease of understanding, the technical terms involved in this application are explained and illustrated below.

[0075] Rigidity refers to the ability of a material or structure to resist deformation. When the external force is constant, the smaller the deformation, the greater the rigidity; when the deformation is constant, the smaller the external force, the smaller the rigidity.

[0076] Flexibility refers to the ability of a material or structure to respond to deformation. When the external force is constant, the greater the deformation, the greater the flexibility. When the deformation is constant, the greater the external force, the less flexibility.

[0077] Stiffness refers to the external force required to produce unit deformation of an object, and symbolizes the ability of a material or structure to resist elastic deformation when subjected to force.

[0078] Flexibility refers to the displacement of an object under unit load, which symbolizes the ability of a material or structure to deform when subjected to force.

[0079] Compliance is the reciprocal of stiffness. Compliance and stiffness are indicators of how easily a material or structure can deform elastically.

[0080] The bending angle is the angle formed by the material after bending.

[0081] Figures 1 and 2 are schematic diagrams of the structure of a foldable electronic device 100 provided in an embodiment of the present application. Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the assembly of the foldable electronic device 100, and Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the decomposition of the foldable electronic device 100.

[0082] In the embodiment of the present application, the foldable electronic device 100 can be a mobile phone, tablet computer, smart watch, e-reader, laptop computer, wearable device, or other electronic device with a foldable function. For ease of understanding, the embodiments shown in Figures 1 and 2 are described using a foldable mobile phone as an example.

[0083] For the convenience of description, the following defines the direction parallel to the folding axis of the foldable electronic device 100 as the X direction, the direction perpendicular to the folding axis of the foldable electronic device 100 as the Y direction, and the direction perpendicular to the screen when the foldable electronic device 100 is in the unfolded state as the Z direction, which is perpendicular to the X direction and the Y direction. The definitions of the X, Y, and Z directions here also apply to the various drawings to be described later. It should be noted that the above definitions of the X, Y, and Z directions are only for the convenience of describing the positional relationship and connection relationship between the various components in the embodiments of the present application, and should not be understood as limiting the embodiments of the present application.

[0084] Referring to Figures 1 and 2 , a foldable electronic device 100 may include a flexible screen 110 and a housing 120. The housing 120 defines a storage space for accommodating various components of the foldable electronic device 100. The flexible screen 110 is disposed within the storage space formed by the housing 120 and is connected to the housing 120. The housing 120 also serves to protect the foldable electronic device 100 and support the entire device.

[0085] The flexible screen 110 is used to display images. In Figures 1 and 2, the flexible screen 110 is schematically represented by a structure filled with a dot matrix pattern. The flexible screen 110 has the characteristics of strong flexibility and bendability, and can provide users with a new interaction method based on its bendable characteristics. The display panel of the flexible screen 110 can adopt any one of, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic light-emitting diode (OLED), an active-matrix organic light emitting diode or an active-matrix organic light emitting diode (AMOLED), a flexible light-emitting diode (FLED), a quantum dot light emitting diode (QLED), etc., and the embodiments of the present application are not limited to this.

[0086] In the embodiment of the present application, the flexible screen 110 has a light-emitting surface capable of displaying images. The side surface of the flexible screen 110 opposite the light-emitting surface can be referred to as the back surface of the flexible screen 110. The back surface of the flexible screen 110 is accommodated in the accommodation space formed by the housing 120 and is not visible to the user.

[0087] Referring to Figure 2, in some embodiments, the housing 120 of the foldable electronic device 100 may include a middle frame 121. The middle frame 121 is a support frame located inside the foldable electronic device 100. The middle frame 121 is generally formed of a metal material such as copper, magnesium alloy, stainless steel, etc. In an embodiment of the present application, the middle frame 121 can be used to support and fix the flexible screen 110. For example, as shown in Figure 2, the flexible screen 110 (specifically, the back of the flexible screen 110) can be bonded to the middle frame 121 by an adhesive 140.

[0088] As shown in Figure 2, in some embodiments, the housing 120 may further include a frame 122. The frame 122 is a structure that surrounds the periphery of the foldable electronic device 100. For example, the frame 122 can be set around the periphery of the flexible screen 110 to help fix the flexible screen 110. Exemplarily, the frame 122 can be set around the periphery of the middle frame 121, and the frame 122 is connected to the middle frame 121. The frame 122 can be made of metal, such as copper, magnesium alloy, stainless steel, etc., or non-metallic materials, such as plastic, glass, ceramic, etc.

[0089] As shown in Figure 2, in some embodiments, the housing 120 may further include a back cover 123. The back cover 123 is typically located on the back of the foldable electronic device 100. For example, the back cover 123 is located on the side of the middle frame 121 facing away from the flexible screen 110. The back cover 123 is primarily used to protect the components and battery inside the foldable electronic device 100. For example, the back cover 123 can prevent external impurities such as dust and water stains from entering the phone. In some embodiments, the back cover 123 can also be used to secure other display screens besides the flexible screen 110, or to secure antennas, etc.

[0090] In some embodiments, the middle frame 121, the frame 122, and the back cover 123 may be three parts of the housing 120 of the foldable electronic device 100. That is, the middle frame 121 and the frame 122 may be connected, and the frame 122 and the back cover 123 may be connected, wherein the connection forms include but are not limited to snap-fitting, bonding, welding, riveting, clearance fitting, and other detachable or non-detachable connection methods. In other embodiments, the frame 122 and the middle frame 121 may be an integrated structure (or an integrated molded structure); or, the frame 122 and the back cover 123 may be an integrated structure.

[0091] Referring to Figure 2, in some embodiments, the middle frame 121 may include a first middle frame portion 121a and a second middle frame portion 121b arranged along a direction perpendicular to the folding axis of the foldable electronic device 100 (the Y direction as shown in Figure 2), wherein the first middle frame portion 121a and the second middle frame portion 121b are respectively located on both sides of the folding axis of the foldable electronic device 100.

[0092] In some embodiments, the frame 122 may include a first frame portion 122a and a second frame portion 122b arranged along a direction perpendicular to the folding axis of the foldable electronic device 100 (the Y direction as shown in Figure 2), wherein the first frame portion 122a and the second frame portion 122b are respectively located on both sides of the folding axis of the foldable electronic device 100.

[0093] In some embodiments, the back cover 123 may include a first back cover portion 123a and a second back cover portion 123b arranged along a direction perpendicular to the folding axis of the foldable electronic device 100 (the Y direction as shown in Figure 2), wherein the first back cover portion 123a and the second back cover portion 123b are respectively located on both sides of the folding axis of the foldable electronic device 100.

[0094] In the embodiment of the present application, at least part of the first middle frame portion 121a, the second middle frame portion 121b, the first frame portion 122a, the second frame portion 122b, the first back cover portion 123a, and the second back cover portion 123b can form a first housing 124 and a second housing 125 for supporting the flexible screen 110. Here, the first housing 124 and the second housing 125 are two parts of the housing 120.

[0095] In other words, the housing 120 may include a first housing 124 and a second housing 125. The first housing 124 may include a first middle frame portion 121a, and the second housing 125 may include a second middle frame portion 121b, wherein the first middle frame portion 121a and the second middle frame portion 121b are respectively located on either side of the folding axis of the foldable electronic device 100.

[0096] In some embodiments, the first shell 124 may further include a first frame portion 122a, and the second shell 125 may further include a second frame portion 122b, wherein the first frame portion 122a and the second frame portion 122b are respectively located on both sides of the folding axis of the foldable electronic device 100, the first frame portion 122a and the first middle frame portion 121a are located on the same side of the folding axis of the foldable electronic device 100, and the second frame portion 122b and the second middle frame portion 121b are located on the same side of the folding axis of the foldable electronic device 100.

[0097] In some embodiments, the first shell 124 may further include a first back cover portion 123a, and the second shell 125 may further include a second back cover portion 123b, wherein the first back cover portion 123a and the second back cover portion 123b are respectively located on both sides of the folding axis of the foldable electronic device 100, the first back cover portion 123a and the first middle frame portion 121a are located on the same side of the folding axis of the foldable electronic device 100, and the second back cover portion 123b and the second middle frame portion 121b are located on the same side of the folding axis of the foldable electronic device 100.

[0098] 1 and 2 , in some embodiments, the foldable electronic device 100 may further include a connection mechanism 130 , which includes a rotation axis 1301 . The connection mechanism 130 is used to connect two parts of the housing 120 (the first housing 124 and the second housing 125 shown in FIG1 and 2 ) to enable one part of the housing 120 to rotate relative to the other part of the housing 120 about the rotation axis 1301 . For example, the first housing 124 and the second housing 125 can rotate relative to each other about the rotation axis 1301 . Accordingly, the electronic components provided on the first housing 124 or the electronic components provided on the second housing 125 can rotate about the rotation axis 1301 , thereby enabling the foldable electronic device 100 to be folded and unfolded.

[0099] 1 and 2 , in some embodiments, the flexible screen 110 may include a first display area 111 corresponding to the first housing 124, a second display area 112 corresponding to the second housing 125, and a third display area 113 corresponding to the connection mechanism 130. The third display area 113 is located between the first display area 111 and the second display area 112. Under the action of the connection mechanism 130, the first housing 124 and the second housing 125 can move closer to or farther away from each other. Accordingly, the third display area 113 bends, and the first display area 111 and the second display area 112 can move closer to or farther away from each other, allowing the flexible screen 110 to be folded or unfolded. In this embodiment of the present application, during the process of folding or unfolding the flexible screen 110 along the rotation axis 1301, the third display area 113 of the flexible screen 110 bends.

[0100] In one example, the connecting mechanism 130 may include a main shaft, a first connecting component, and a second connecting component. The first connecting component may be fixed to the first housing 124, and the second connecting component may be fixed to the second housing 125. The first and second connecting components may rotate relative to the main shaft. The mutual movement of the first and second connecting components may drive the mutual movement of the first and second housings 124, 125, thereby realizing the opening and closing function of the foldable electronic device 100.

[0101] The foldable electronic device 100 shown in FIG1 is in an unfolded state. In the unfolded state, the angle between the first housing 124 and the second housing 125 can be approximately 180 degrees. The flexible screen 110 can be in the unfolded state as shown in FIG1, making it easier for users to use the large screen.

[0102] 3 shows two possible folding states of the foldable electronic device 100. In the folded state, the first housing 124 and the second housing 125 are parallel to each other, and the flexible screen 110 is bent to a maximum degree.

[0103] (a) in FIG3 shows a state in which the screen of the foldable electronic device 100 is folded inward, that is, the inward folding state. In the inward folding state, referring to the AA cross-sectional schematic diagram shown in (a) in FIG3, the first display area 111 and the second display area 112 are opposite to each other, the first shell 124 and the second shell 125 are opposite to each other, and the third display area 113 is bent. (b) in FIG3 shows a state in which the screen of the foldable electronic device 100 is folded outward, that is, the outward folding state. In the outward folding state, referring to the BB cross-sectional schematic diagram shown in (b) in FIG3, the first display area 111 and the second display area 112 are opposite to each other, the first shell 124 and the second shell 125 are opposite to each other, and the third display area 113 is bent. It can be understood that when the foldable electronic device 100 is in the folded state, the foldable electronic device 100 is currently bent, and the degree of bending of the foldable electronic device 100 reaches the maximum.

[0104] In the embodiment of the present application, the foldable electronic device 100 can switch between a folded state and an unfolded state. When the foldable electronic device 100 is in the folded state, the space occupied by the foldable electronic device 100 is relatively small; when the foldable electronic device 100 is in the unfolded state, the foldable electronic device 100 can display a relatively large screen to increase the user's viewing range.

[0105] It should be understood that Figures 1 to 3 only schematically illustrate some of the components included in the foldable electronic device 100, and the shapes, sizes, and configurations of these components are not limited by Figures 1 to 3. In other embodiments, the foldable electronic device 100 may also include more or fewer components than shown, and this embodiment of the present application is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the type of foldable electronic device 100 is different, and the components included in the foldable electronic device 100 are different. The foldable electronic device structure provided in the embodiment of the present application is only an exemplary description.

[0106] It should also be understood that Figures 1 to 3 only schematically illustrate that the foldable electronic device 100 includes two foldable parts (a first shell 124 and a second shell 125), that is, the foldable electronic device 100 has one folding axis. In some other embodiments, the foldable electronic device 100 may also include three or more foldable parts. Accordingly, the foldable electronic device 100 has two or more folding axes, so that the user can fold it multiple times along multiple folding axes. As the number of foldable parts of the foldable electronic device 100 increases, the space occupied by the foldable electronic device 100 in the folded state can be further reduced while maintaining the same screen size in the unfolded state; or, while occupying the same space in the folded state, the displayed screen area can be further enlarged in the unfolded state.

[0107] The flexible screen 110 is generally a multi-layer stacked structure. Figure 4 shows a schematic structural diagram of the flexible screen 110. As shown in Figure 4, the flexible screen 110 may include a stacked support layer 101, a display layer 102, an impact protection layer 103, and a surface layer 104.

[0108] The support layer 101 is located at the bottom layer of the flexible screen 110. It has a certain hardness and can play a supporting role.

[0109] The display layer 102 is located between the support layer 101 and the impact protection layer 103 and includes a plurality of pixel units for displaying images.

[0110] The impact protection layer 103 is located between the display layer 102 and the surface layer 104. It has certain impact resistance and wear resistance and can resist external impact to protect the display layer 102. In some embodiments, the impact protection layer 103 can also be called a cover plate.

[0111] The surface layer 104 is located on the impact protection layer 103 and has a scratch resistance function. The surface layer 104 can be easily separated from the impact protection layer 103 so as to be replaced or removed when needed.

[0112] It can be understood that the film layer stacking structure shown in Figure 4 is merely exemplary. In some other embodiments, the flexible screen 110 may also have other film layer stacking methods, such as not including the surface layer 104 or including other film layers, etc. The embodiments of the present application are not limited to this.

[0113] As mentioned above, the flexible screen 110 needs to be connected to the housing 120. Figure 5 shows a schematic diagram of the flexible screen fixing scheme of the current mainstream foldable electronic products. As shown in Figure 5, the foldable electronic product includes a flexible screen 201 and a housing 202. In order to fix the flexible screen 201 on the housing 202, in the flexible screen fixing scheme shown in Figure 5, in addition to applying adhesive 204 on the back of the flexible screen 201 to bond the flexible screen 201 to the housing 202, a pressure cover 203 is also used to press the periphery of the screen along the film stacking direction of the flexible screen 201 for fixing.

[0114] Here, the pressure cover 203 can play the role of screen protection and screen edge appearance shielding. Specifically, the various film layers of the flexible screen 201 are made of softer flexible materials with limited stretchability. In the process of folding the flexible screen 201, the gap between the flexible screen 201 and the side of the shell 202 (i.e., the edge gap) will increase, and the edge of the flexible screen 201 may also have a warping problem, which makes the edge gap larger. The edge gap is very easy to get dust, water stains, etc. The edge warping problem will also cause the flexible screen 201 to debond and crack. These problems will affect the performance and service life of the flexible screen 201. The pressure cover 203 is used to fix the flexible screen 201. The pressure cover 203 can cover the gap and play a protective effect. In addition, since the flexible screen 201 is a film layer stacking structure, in the process of folding the flexible screen 201, the film layers of the flexible screen 201 will be dislocated. The pressure cover 203 can also shield the edge of the screen, thereby improving the aesthetics.

[0115] However, in order to fix the flexible screen 201, the pressure cover 203 needs to partially overlap with the flexible screen 201, resulting in the size of the pressure cover 203 (for example, the size of the pressure cover 203 in the Y direction shown in Figure 5) being too wide, and the visual black border is larger, affecting the user's viewing experience.

[0116] In view of this, the present application provides a flexible screen fixing solution that can avoid the visual impact of the large black border caused by the pressure cover, increase the screen-to-body ratio, and thus enhance the user experience.

[0117] Figure 6 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a foldable electronic device provided in an embodiment of the present application. The foldable electronic device 200 shown in Figure 6 is a specific example of the foldable electronic device 100 involved in Figures 1 to 3.

[0118] As shown in Figure 6, the foldable electronic device 200 includes a flexible screen 210 and a housing 120. The flexible screen 210 is housed in a receiving space formed by the housing 120 and is connected to the housing 120. The flexible screen 210 can be folded or unfolded about the folding axis of the foldable electronic device 200. The flexible screen 210 includes a stacked cover 211 and a display layer 212, wherein the display layer 212 includes a bending region 2121 and a non-bending region 2122. The cover 211 includes a flexible portion 2111 and a rigid portion 2112. The flexible portion 2111 of the cover 211 corresponds to the bending region 2121 of the display layer 212, and the rigid portion 2112 of the cover 211 corresponds to the non-bending region 2122 of the display layer 212. The rigid portion 2112 of the cover 211 is fixedly connected to the housing 120.

[0119] For details about the housing 120 in foldable electronic device 200, please refer to the description of housing 120 mentioned above in Figures 1 to 3. For the sake of brevity, we will not repeat it here. Flexible screen 210 is a specific example of flexible screen 110 mentioned in Figures 1 to 3. The following is a detailed description of only the details not mentioned above. For the rest of the flexible screen 210, please refer to the relevant description of flexible screen 110 mentioned above in Figures 1 to 3.

[0120] It can be understood that since the flexible screen 210 is a stacked structure of film layers, folding or unfolding the flexible screen 210 is actually folding or unfolding the various film layers of the flexible screen 210. Therefore, the various film layers of the flexible screen 210 include bending areas and non-bending areas, wherein the bending areas of each film layer correspond to each other, for example, the bending area of ​​the cover plate 211 corresponds to the bending area of ​​the display layer 212, and the non-bending areas of each film layer correspond to each other, for example, the non-bending area of ​​the cover plate 211 corresponds to the non-bending area of ​​the display layer 212. The bending areas of the various film layers of the flexible screen 210 superimposed can be considered as the bending area of ​​the flexible screen 210, and the non-bending areas of the various film layers of the flexible screen 210 superimposed can be considered as the non-bending area of ​​the flexible screen 210.

[0121] Based on this, in the embodiment of the present application, since the flexible portion 2111 of the cover plate 211 corresponds to the bending region 2121 of the display layer 212, it can be understood that the flexible portion 2111 of the cover plate 211 corresponds to the bending region of the cover plate 211. Since the rigid portion 2112 of the cover plate 211 corresponds to the non-bending region 2122 of the display layer 212, it can be understood that the rigid portion 2112 of the cover plate 211 corresponds to the non-bending region of the cover plate 211.

[0122] In the embodiment of the present application, the display layer 212 is used to display images.

[0123] In the embodiment of the present application, the cover plate 211 is used to fix the display layer 212 (actually, it also fixes the flexible screen 210). More specifically, the cover plate 211 includes a flexible portion 2111 and a rigid portion 2112, wherein the position of the flexible portion 2111 corresponds to the position of the bending area 2121 of the display layer 212. Due to the high flexibility of the flexible portion 2111, when the flexible screen 210 is folded, the flexible portion 2111 can bend and the cover plate 211 can be folded; the position of the rigid portion 2112 corresponds to the position of the non-bending area 2122 of the display layer 212. The rigid portion 2112 does not need to bend, and due to the high rigidity of the rigid portion 2112, the rigid portion 2112 can be fixedly connected to the housing 120, thereby achieving a fixed connection between the cover plate 211 and the housing 120, and then achieving a connection between the flexible screen 210 and the housing 120.

[0124] In the flexible screen fixing solution provided in this application, the cover plate 211 is not completely soft, but a combination of soft and hard. That is, the bending area of ​​the cover plate 211 has greater flexibility (correspondingly less rigidity), and the non-bending area of ​​the cover plate 211 has less flexibility (correspondingly greater rigidity). Therefore, the cover plate 211 can be connected to the housing 120 through the non-bending area with greater rigidity, without the need for an additional pressure cover for fixing. This can avoid the visual impact of the large black border caused by the pressure cover, achieve a small frame visual design and increase the screen-to-body ratio, and enhance the user's viewing experience.

[0125] On the other hand, since the rigid part 2112 of the cover 211 is connected to the shell 120, during the folding process of the flexible screen 210, there is no obvious slippage between the cover 211 and the shell 120, and the edge of the cover 211 does not obviously warp, which can reduce the entry of dust and achieve screen edge protection.

[0126] In addition, since the pressure cover is omitted, the solution provided in this application can also reduce the assembly difficulty and processing cost of the foldable electronic device 200.

[0127] In the embodiment of the present application, the rigidity (or flexibility) of the flexible portion 2111 is different from the rigidity (or flexibility) of the rigid portion 2112. Specifically, the flexibility of the flexible portion 2111 is greater than the flexibility of the rigid portion 2112, or in other words, the rigidity of the rigid portion 2112 is greater than the rigidity of the flexible portion 2111.

[0128] In some embodiments, the flexible portion 2111 of the cover plate 211 is bendable and can undergo significant deformation, while the rigid portion 2112 of the cover plate 211 is not bendable, or can only undergo slight deformation, or can undergo significant deformation but the deformation produced under the action of force is far smaller than the deformation produced by the flexible portion 2111 under the same action of force.

[0129] In some embodiments, the minimum bending angle of the rigid portion 2112 is greater than 90°. For example, referring to (a) in FIG7 , the bending angle of the rigid portion 2112 is the angle α1 formed by the portions of the rigid portion 2112 located on both sides of the bending line after being bent, wherein the minimum value of α1 is greater than 90°. When α1 is less than or equal to 90°, the rigid portion 2112 will break. In other words, with respect to the cover plate 211, its rigid portion 2112 will not bend (i.e., α1 = 180°), or the rigid portion 2112 can bend under the action of an external force but the minimum bending angle is greater than 90°. That is, the portions of the rigid portion 2112 located on both sides of the bending line after being bent form an obtuse angle or a straight angle. Accordingly, the maximum value of the angle α2 between the portion of the rigid portion 2112 located on one side of the bending line and the extension line of the portion of the rigid portion 2112 located on the other side of the bending line is less than 90°.

[0130] In some embodiments, the minimum bending angle of the flexible portion 2111 is less than or equal to 0°. For example, as shown in (b) of Figure 7 , the bending angle of the flexible portion 2111 is the angle β1 formed by the portions of the flexible portion 2111 located on both sides of the bending line after being bent, where the minimum value of β1 can be 0°. That is, the portions of the flexible portion 2111 located on both sides of the bending line after being bent can be parallel. In other words, with respect to the cover plate 211, the flexible portion 2111 can bend under the action of an external force, and the minimum bending angle of the flexible portion 2111 can be 0°. Accordingly, the maximum value of the angle β2 between the portion of the flexible portion 2111 located on one side of the bending line and the extension line of the portion of the flexible portion 2111 located on the other side of the bending line can be 180°. The minimum bending angle of the flexible portion 2111 involved here is less than 0°, which can be understood as the flexible portion 2111 being able to be rolled.

[0131] In some embodiments, the bending radius of the rigid portion 2112 is greater than the bending radius of the flexible portion 2111. In other words, for the cover plate 211, the bending radius of the rigid portion 2112 when bent under an external force is greater than the bending radius of the flexible portion 2111 when bent under the same external force.

[0132] In this way, the rigid part 2112 of the cover plate 211 has greater rigidity and is not easy to bend or arch, which is conducive to fixed connection with the shell 120; the flexible part 2111 of the cover plate 211 has greater flexibility and does not affect the folding and unfolding of the flexible screen 210.

[0133] In the embodiment of the present application, the fixed connection between the rigid portion 2112 of the cover 211 and the shell 120 can be a detachable connection or a non-detachable connection, wherein the specific connection method includes but is not limited to bonding, clamping, welding, etc.

[0134] In some embodiments, the rigid portion 2112 of the cover plate 211 is bonded to the housing 120. For example, as shown in Figure 6 , the rigid portion 2112 can be bonded to the housing 120 using adhesive 140. Using adhesive 140 to bond the cover plate 211 to the housing 120 is simple, quick, and efficient. Furthermore, adhesive 140 can bond both homogeneous and dissimilar materials, is not restricted by material shape or thickness, and offers relatively stable performance.

[0135] In some embodiments, the housing 120 includes a middle frame 121 , and the rigid portion 2112 of the cover 211 may be connected to the middle frame 121 .

[0136] In some embodiments, the housing 120 includes a frame 122 , and the rigid portion 2112 of the cover 211 may be connected to the frame 122 .

[0137] For detailed introduction of the middle frame 121 and the border 122 , please refer to the relevant contents involved in Figures 1 to 3 above, which will not be repeated here for the sake of brevity.

[0138] In some embodiments, the housing 120 may include a first housing 124 and a second housing 125. The foldable electronic device 200 further includes a connecting mechanism 130. The portions of the connecting mechanism 130 located on either side of the folding axis are connected to the first housing 124 and the second housing 125, respectively. That is, the first housing 124 and the second housing 125 are connected via the connecting mechanism 130. The first housing 124 and the second housing 125 can rotate relative to each other about the connecting mechanism 130 to achieve the unfolding and folding of the foldable electronic device 200. The position of the flexible portion 2111 of the cover 211 corresponds to the position of the connecting mechanism 130, and the rigid portion 2112 of the cover 211 is connected to the first housing 124 and the second housing 125.

[0139] The position of the flexible portion 2111 corresponds to the position of the connecting mechanism 130 and does not affect the folding and unfolding of the flexible screen 210 .

[0140] In some embodiments, the back of the flexible screen 210 is connected to the housing 120 via adhesive 140. In this embodiment of the present application, due to the good rigidity of the rigid portion 2112 of the cover plate 211, the local tension concentration on the screen caused by the adhesive on the back of the flexible screen 210 (especially the non-bending area of ​​the flexible screen 210) can be reduced, thereby reducing the sudden change in light and shadow defects (i.e., the concave and convex effect of light and shadow) caused by the local tension concentration on the screen.

[0141] Of course, in some other embodiments, the back of the flexible screen 210 can also be fixed to the shell 120 without bonding, so as to avoid the local tension concentration on the screen caused by gluing, thereby avoiding the light and shadow mutation defects caused by the local tension concentration on the screen.

[0142] In the embodiment of the present application, there are multiple ways to realize that the cover plate 211 is a combination of soft and hard forms, which are described in detail below with reference to FIG. 8 to FIG. 12 .

[0143] FIG8 shows a schematic structural diagram of a flexible screen provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0144] As shown in Figure 8, the flexible screen 210 includes a stacked cover plate 211 and a display layer 212. The cover plate 211 is disposed on the display layer 212, that is, the cover plate 211 is disposed on the light-emitting side of the display layer 212. The cover plate 211 includes a flexible portion 2111 and a rigid portion 2112. The flexible portion 2111 comprises a first material, and the rigid portion 2112 comprises a second material, the first material and the second material being different. In other words, the cover plate 211 can be made of a combination of multiple materials, which helps to simultaneously ensure the bendability of the flexible portion 2111 and the good rigidity of the rigid portion 2112.

[0145] In the embodiment of the present application, the stiffness (or flexibility) of the first material is different from the stiffness (or flexibility) of the second material. For example, the flexibility of the first material is greater than the flexibility of the second material, or in other words, the stiffness of the second material is greater than the stiffness of the first material.

[0146] In some embodiments, the first material is a flexible material.

[0147] In some embodiments, the first material may include an organic film material. Exemplarily, the first material includes at least one of the following materials: polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polyimide (PI), polyamide (PA), polyethylene terephthalate (PET) (also known as polyester resin), thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU), etc.

[0148] In this way, the flexible portion 2111 of the cover plate 211 has greater flexibility and does not affect the folding and unfolding of the flexible screen 210.

[0149] In some embodiments, the second material is a rigid material.

[0150] In some embodiments, the second material includes at least one of the following materials: glass, transparent resin (or light-transmitting resin), etc. For example, the glass may include organic glass and organic glass (ie, polymethyl methacrylate).

[0151] In this way, the rigid portion 2112 of the cover plate 211 has greater rigidity, which is conducive to fixed connection with the housing 120 .

[0152] There are many ways to connect the flexible portion 2111 and the rigid portion 2112 , which will be described below with reference to FIG8 and FIG9 .

[0153] As an example, as shown in Figure 8, the flexible portion 2111 and the rigid portion 2112 are connected via their respective surfaces in a first direction. Here, the first direction is perpendicular to the thickness direction of the flexible screen 210 (i.e., the direction in which the film layers of the flexible screen 210 are stacked, such as the Z direction shown in Figure 8) and perpendicular to the folding axis of the flexible screen 210, for example, the Y direction of Figure 8. More specifically, the surface of the flexible portion 2111 facing the rigid portion 2112 in the first direction (e.g., the Y direction shown in the figure) is connected to the surface of the rigid portion 2112 facing the flexible portion 2111 in the first direction.

[0154] In this way, there is no need to add additional film layers, which is beneficial for reducing the stacking thickness of the flexible screen 210.

[0155] Exemplarily, the splicing method of the flexible portion 2111 and the rigid portion 2112 (ie, the splicing method between the first material and the second material) includes but is not limited to injection molding, welding, hot melting, and the like.

[0156] As another example, as shown in (a) and (b) of FIG9 , the flexible screen 210 further includes a connecting layer 213, which is stacked with the cover plate 211, wherein the flexible portion 2111 is connected to the connecting layer 213, and the rigid portion 2112 is connected to the connecting layer 213, so that the flexible portion 2111 and the rigid portion 2112 can be spliced ​​together through the connecting layer 213. More specifically, the projection of the connecting layer 213 in the thickness direction of the flexible screen 210 overlaps with the projection of the flexible portion 2111 in the thickness direction of the flexible screen 210, the projection of the connecting layer 213 in the thickness direction of the flexible screen 210 overlaps with the projection of the rigid portion 2112 in the thickness direction of the flexible screen 210, the surface of the flexible portion 2111 facing the connecting layer 213 in the thickness direction is connected to the surface of the connecting layer 213 facing the flexible portion 2111 in the thickness direction, and the surface of the rigid portion 2112 facing the connecting layer 213 in the thickness direction is connected to the surface of the connecting layer 213 facing the rigid portion 2112 in the thickness direction.

[0157] In this way, the rigid portion 2112 and the flexible portion 2111 are connected via the connection layer 213 , which can increase the contact area and ensure the reliability of the connection.

[0158] Exemplarily, the cover plate 211 and the connection layer 213 may be connected by bonding, for example, using an optically clear adhesive (OCA) to bond the cover plate 211 and the connection layer 213 together.

[0159] In some embodiments, the connection layer 213 is made of a flexible material, such as ultra-thin glass, optical resin, etc. In this way, the connection layer 213 can be folded and unfolded without affecting the bendability of the flexible screen 210 .

[0160] In some embodiments, the connection layer 213 may be disposed on the cover plate 211 in the thickness direction of the flexible screen 210. For example, as shown in FIG9(a), the cover plate 211 is disposed between the connection layer 213 and the display layer 212.

[0161] Similar to the structure shown in FIG4 , in some embodiments, based on the structure shown in FIG9 (a), the flexible screen 210 may further include a support layer 101 and a surface layer 104 as shown in FIG4 . The support layer 101 is located below the display layer 212, that is, the display layer 212 is located between the support layer 101 and the cover plate 211. The surface layer 104 is located above the connection layer 213, that is, the connection layer 213 is located between the surface layer 104 and the cover plate 211.

[0162] In other embodiments, the connection layer 213 may be disposed below the cover plate 211 in the thickness direction of the flexible screen 210. For example, as shown in FIG9(b), the connection layer 213 is disposed between the display layer 212 and the cover plate 211. For example, the edge of the connection layer 213 may be retracted toward the center of the screen relative to the edge of the rigid portion 2112, so that the connection layer 213 does not affect the connection between the rigid portion 2112 and the housing 120.

[0163] Similar to the structure shown in FIG4 , in some embodiments, based on the structure shown in FIG9( b ), the flexible screen 210 may further include a support layer 101 and a surface layer 104 as shown in FIG4 . The support layer 101 is located below the display layer 212, that is, the display layer 212 is located between the support layer 101 and the connection layer 213. The surface layer 104 is located above the cover plate 211, that is, the cover plate 211 is located between the surface layer 104 and the connection layer 213.

[0164] Figure 10 shows a schematic structural diagram of another flexible screen provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0165] As shown in Figure 10, the flexible screen 210 includes a stacked cover plate 211 and a display layer 212, with the cover plate 211 disposed on the display layer 212. The cover plate 211 includes a flexible portion 2111 and a rigid portion 2112, wherein the thickness of the flexible portion 2111 is less than that of the rigid portion 2112. It should be understood that the thickness mentioned here refers to the dimension in the stacking direction of the film layers of the flexible screen 210 (refer to the Z direction in Figure 10).

[0166] In this embodiment, the flexible portion 2111 and the rigid portion 2112 are formed by partially thinning the cover plate 211 , wherein the flexible portion 2111 is thinner and can achieve a bending function.

[0167] In some embodiments, the material of the flexible portion 2111 and the material of the rigid portion 2112 can be the same, for example, the entire cover 211 is made of the same material. As an example and not a limitation, the material of the cover 211 can be glass, light-transmitting resin, etc.

[0168] In other embodiments, the material of the flexible portion 2111 and the material of the rigid portion 2112 may be different. For example, the flexible portion 2111 includes a first material, and the rigid portion 2112 includes a second material, where the first material is different from the second material. By way of example and not limitation, the first material includes at least one of the following: polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polyimide (PI), polyamide (PA), polyester resin (PET), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), glass, or transparent resin; the second material may include at least one of the following: glass or transparent resin.

[0169] In this embodiment, the first material and the second material can be spliced ​​together, wherein the splicing method can refer to the method described in Figures 8 to 9. For details, please see the relevant description above. For the sake of brevity, it will not be repeated here.

[0170] In the embodiment of the present application, there are various ways to perform partial thinning on the cover plate 211 .

[0171] As an example, the cover plate 211 may be first integrally formed with a uniform thickness, and then a material removal process may be performed on a portion of the area to form the flexible portion 2111 .

[0172] As another example, the cover plate 211 may be directly integrally formed with uneven thickness, wherein the area with smaller thickness is the flexible portion 2111 .

[0173] As another example, the rigid portion 2112 and the flexible portion 2111 of the cover plate 211 may be prepared separately and then spliced ​​together.

[0174] In the embodiment of the present application, as shown in (a) to (c) of FIG10 , the cover plate 211 is provided with a groove, such as the first groove 2113 shown in (a) and (b) of FIG10 or the second groove 2114 shown in (b) and (c) of FIG10 , wherein the portion of the cover plate corresponding to the groove is the flexible portion 2111. In other words, in the thickness direction of the flexible screen 210, a groove is formed between the rigid portion 2112 and the flexible portion 2111, wherein the bottom wall of the groove belongs to the flexible portion 2111, and the side wall of the groove belongs to the rigid portion 2112.

[0175] In the embodiment of the present application, there are multiple ways to set the groove on the cover plate 211, which are described in detail below with reference to FIG. 10 .

[0176] As an example, referring to FIG10( a ), the grooves provided on the cover plate 211 include a first groove 2113, which is close to the display layer 212, and the rigid portion 2112 of the cover plate 211 is connected to the display layer 212. In this example, the first groove 2113 can also be considered to be opened on the side of the cover plate 211 facing the back of the flexible screen 210.

[0177] As another example, referring to FIG10( b ), the grooves provided on the cover plate 211 include a second groove 2114. The second groove 2114 is away from the display layer 212, and both the flexible portion 2111 and the rigid portion 2112 of the cover plate 211 are connected to the display layer 212. In this example, the second groove 2114 can also be considered to be opened on the side of the cover plate 211 facing the light-emitting surface of the flexible screen 210.

[0178] As another example, referring to (c) in Figure 10, the grooves set on the cover plate 211 include a first groove 2113 and a second groove 2114, the first groove 2113 is close to the display layer 212, the second groove 2114 is away from the display layer 212, and the rigid part 2112 of the cover plate 211 is connected to the display layer 212.

[0179] In the example of FIG10( a ), the first groove 2113 is close to the display layer 212. In some embodiments, as shown in FIG10( a ), the surface of the rigid portion 2112 of the cover plate 211 facing the display layer 212 is attached to (or in contact with) the display layer 212, while the surface of the flexible portion 2111 facing the display layer 212 is not attached to (or in contact with) the display layer 212. In other words, the space formed by the first groove 2113 and the display layer 212 is filled with air.

[0180] In other embodiments, as shown in FIG11 , the cover plate 211 includes a first groove 2113, and the first groove 2113 is close to the display layer 212, the surface of the rigid portion 2112 of the cover plate 211 facing the display layer 212 is in contact with the display layer 212, and the inner wall (including the side wall and / or the bottom wall) of the first groove 2113 is in contact with the display layer 212. In other words, the surface of the cover plate 211 facing the display layer 212 is in contact with the surface of the display layer 212 facing the cover plate 211, wherein a protrusion 2123 is provided on the display layer 212, and the protrusion 2123 is engaged with the first groove 2113. It can be understood that the solution shown in FIG11 is also applicable to the situation shown in (c) of FIG10 and will not be described in detail here. In this way, the display effect can be improved.

[0181] In other embodiments, as shown in FIG12 , the cover plate 211 is provided with a groove 214 , and a flexible material 215 is provided in the groove 214 , so as to ensure smoothness of the display effect.

[0182] For example, the groove 214 includes a first groove 2113 as shown in (a) or (c) of FIG10 , in which the flexible material 215 is provided, wherein the surface of the rigid portion 2112 facing the display layer 212 is in contact with the display layer 212, and the surface of the flexible material 215 facing the display layer 212 is in contact with the display layer 212. For another example, the groove 214 includes a second groove 2114 as shown in (b) or (c) of FIG10 , in which the flexible material 215 is filled.

[0183] As an example but not limitation, the flexible material 215 may include at least one of the following materials: optically clear adhesive (OCA), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polyimide (PI), polyamide (PA), polyester resin (PET), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), etc.

[0184] It can be understood that the length direction of the grooves involved in the embodiments of the present application (such as groove 214, first groove 2113, and second groove 2114) is parallel to the folding axis of the flexible screen 210, and the width direction of the grooves is perpendicular to the folding axis of the flexible screen 210 and perpendicular to the thickness direction of the flexible screen 210.

[0185] In some embodiments, the width of the slot 214 may substantially correspond to the width of the connection mechanism 130 .

[0186] In the embodiment of the present application, the position of the cover plate 211 is not limited to being located above the display layer 212 as shown in Figures 8 to 12. In some other embodiments, the cover plate 211 may also be located below the display layer 212. The splicing method, thinning processing method, groove setting method, flexible filling material setting, etc. involved in the aforementioned embodiments are also applicable here. For details, please refer to the relevant description above. For the sake of brevity, they will not be repeated here.

[0187] In the embodiment of the present application, the cover plate 211 and the display layer 212 can be directly bonded, and other film layers can be arranged between the two. The splicing method, thinning treatment method, groove setting method, flexible filling material setting, etc. involved in the aforementioned embodiments are also applicable here. For details, please refer to the relevant description above. For the sake of brevity, they will not be repeated here.

[0188] By implementing the method provided in this application, a small-border visual design and an increase in the screen-to-body ratio can be achieved, thereby enhancing the user's viewing experience.

[0189] In the description of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified or limited, the terms "mounted," "connected," and "connected" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, they may refer to fixed connections, detachable connections, or integrated connections; they may refer to mechanical connections or electrical connections; they may refer to direct connections or indirect connections through an intermediate medium; and they may refer to internal communication between two components. Those skilled in the art will understand the specific meanings of the above terms in this application in specific contexts.

[0190] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of the present application, but the scope of protection of the present application is not limited thereto. Any changes or substitutions that can be easily conceived by a person skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in this application should be included in the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be based on the scope of protection of the claims.

Claims

1. A foldable electronic device, characterized in that: include: case; A flexible screen, the flexible screen comprising a cover plate and a display layer which are stacked, the display layer comprising a bending area and a non-bending area, the cover plate comprising a flexible portion and a rigid portion, wherein the flexible portion corresponds to the bending area, the rigid portion corresponds to the non-bending area, and the rigid portion is fixedly connected to the shell.

2. The foldable electronic device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The rigid part is bonded and fixed to the shell.

3. The foldable electronic device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The shell includes a middle frame, and the rigid part is fixedly connected to the middle frame; and / or The shell includes a frame, and the rigid part is fixedly connected to the frame.

4. The foldable electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The foldable electronic device also includes a connecting mechanism, the shell includes a first shell and a second shell, the first shell and the second shell are respectively rotatably connected to the connecting mechanism, the position of the flexible part corresponds to the position of the connecting mechanism, and the rigid part is connected to the first shell and the second shell.

5. The foldable electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The back side of the flexible screen is bonded to the housing; or, The back side of the flexible screen is not bonded to the shell.

6. The foldable electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The thickness of the flexible portion is smaller than the thickness of the rigid portion.

7. The foldable electronic device according to claim 6, characterized in that: The cover plate is made of any one of the following materials: glass, light-transmitting resin.

8. The foldable electronic device according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that: In the thickness direction of the flexible screen, a groove is formed between the flexible part and the rigid part, and the display layer is provided with a protrusion, wherein the protrusion is embedded in the groove; or, In the thickness direction of the flexible screen, a groove is formed between the flexible part and the rigid part, wherein the groove is filled with a flexible material.

9. The foldable electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The flexible portion includes a first material and the rigid portion includes a second material, the first material being different from the second material.

10. The foldable electronic device according to claim 9, characterized in that: The first material comprises at least one of the following materials: polypropylene, polyethylene, polyimide, polyamide, polyester resin, thermoplastic polyurethane; and / or The second material includes at least one of the following materials: glass and light-transmitting resin.

11. The foldable electronic device according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that: A surface of the flexible portion facing the rigid portion in a first direction is connected to a surface of the rigid portion facing the flexible portion in the first direction, wherein the first direction is perpendicular to the thickness direction of the flexible screen and perpendicular to a folding axis of the flexible screen.

12. The foldable electronic device according to any one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that: The flexible screen further includes a connection layer, which is stacked with the cover plate, wherein the flexible portion is connected to the connection layer, and the rigid portion is connected to the connection layer.

13. The foldable electronic device according to claim 12, characterized in that: The material of the connecting layer is ultra-thin glass or optical resin.

14. The foldable electronic device according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that: The connection layer is disposed between the cover plate and the display layer; or, The cover plate is arranged between the connection layer and the display layer.

15. The foldable electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that: The cover plate is arranged on one side of the light emitting surface of the display layer.

16. A flexible screen, characterized in that: It comprises a cover plate and a display layer which are stacked, wherein the display layer comprises a bending area and a non-bending area, and the cover plate comprises a flexible portion and a rigid portion, wherein the flexible portion corresponds to the bending area, and the rigid portion corresponds to the non-bending area.

17. The flexible screen according to claim 16, characterized in that: The thickness of the flexible portion is smaller than the thickness of the rigid portion.

18. The flexible screen according to claim 17, characterized in that: The cover plate is made of any one of the following materials: glass, light-transmitting resin.

19. The flexible screen according to claim 17 or 18, characterized in that: In the thickness direction of the flexible screen, a groove is formed between the flexible part and the rigid part, and the display layer is provided with a protrusion, wherein the protrusion is embedded in the groove; or, In the thickness direction of the flexible screen, a groove is formed between the flexible part and the rigid part, wherein the groove is filled with a flexible material.

20. The flexible screen according to any one of claims 16 to 19, characterized in that: The flexible portion includes a first material and the rigid portion includes a second material, the first material being different from the second material.

21. The flexible screen according to claim 20, characterized in that: The first material comprises at least one of the following materials: polypropylene, polyethylene, polyimide, polyamide, polyester resin, thermoplastic polyurethane; and / or The second material includes at least one of the following materials: glass and light-transmitting resin.

22. The flexible screen according to claim 20 or 21, characterized in that: A surface of the flexible portion facing the rigid portion in a first direction is connected to a surface of the rigid portion facing the flexible portion in the first direction, wherein the first direction is perpendicular to the thickness direction of the flexible screen and perpendicular to a folding axis of the flexible screen.

23. The flexible screen according to any one of claims 20 to 22, characterized in that: The flexible screen further includes a connection layer, which is stacked with the cover plate, wherein the flexible portion is connected to the connection layer, and the rigid portion is connected to the connection layer.

24. The flexible screen according to claim 23, characterized in that: The material of the connecting layer is ultra-thin glass or optical resin.

25. The flexible screen according to claim 23 or 24, characterized in that: The connection layer is disposed between the cover plate and the display layer; or, The cover plate is arranged between the connection layer and the display layer.

26. The flexible screen according to any one of claims 16 to 25, characterized in that: The cover plate is arranged on one side of the light emitting surface of the display layer.

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