Display module and display device

Abstract

A display module (100), the display module (100) comprising: a module layer group (110), a support piece (120), and a rotating shaft (130). The module layer group (110) comprises a flexible area (112a) and a non-flexible area (112b) connected to the flexible area (112a); the support piece (120) comprises a support portion (121) and a sliding portion (122) connected to the support portion (121), the support portion (121) at least being disposed in the flexible area (112a), and the sliding portion (122) being slidably connected to a housing; the flexible area (112a) is wound on the rotating shaft (130) so that at least part of the flexible area (112a) can overlap with the non-flexible area (112b); and the support piece (120) is disposed between the module layer group (110) and the rotating shaft (130).

Description

Display module and display device

[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese patent application No. 2024100267321 filed on January 8, 2024, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0002] The present disclosure relates to the field of display technology, and in particular to a display module and a display device. Background Art

[0003] In related technologies, a foldable display screen has a flexible part that is wound around a rotating shaft and can rotate relative to the rotating shaft to achieve a variety of different display areas. During the rotation process, the flexible part contacts the rotating shaft, and stress and strain will occur in the wound part, causing the flexible part to deform. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The present disclosure aims to at least to some extent solve the technical problem of the service life of a display module. To this end, the present disclosure provides a display module and a display device.

[0005] In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a display module, comprising: a module layer group, comprising a flexible area and a non-flexible area connected to the flexible area; a support member, comprising a supporting portion and a sliding portion connected to the supporting portion, the supporting portion being at least arranged in the flexible area, and the sliding portion being slidably connected to the shell; a rotating shaft, the flexible area being arranged around the rotating shaft, so that at least part of the flexible area can be arranged to overlap with the non-flexible area; in some embodiments, the support member is arranged between the module layer group and the rotating shaft.

[0006] The sliding portion is slidably connected to the shell, that is, the supporting portion can be slidably connected to the shell through the sliding portion, and the supporting portion is arranged on the non-display surface of the flexible area. During the sliding process of the entire module group, the supporting portion and the sliding portion can work together to play a certain supporting role on the module group, reducing the stress generated by the module group in the process of contact with the rotating shaft structure, thereby reducing the stress and strain on the module group, reducing the possibility of the module group breaking during the sliding process, and thus improving the service life of the entire display module.

[0007] In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure further provides a display device, comprising the display module provided in the first aspect.

[0008] The beneficial effects of the display device provided in the second aspect are the same as the beneficial effects of the display module provided in the first aspect, and will not be repeated here. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention, a brief introduction will be given below to the drawings required for use in the description of the embodiments. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without any creative work.

[0010] FIG1 shows a schematic structural diagram of a display module provided according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0011] FIG2 shows an exploded view of a support member provided according to one embodiment of some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0012] FIG3 shows a schematic structural diagram of a support portion of a support member provided in accordance with one embodiment of some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0013] FIG4 shows a diagram of the mold layers of a display module provided according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0014] FIG5 shows a schematic structural diagram of a support member provided according to some other embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0015] FIG. 6 shows an exploded view of point A in FIG. 5 .

[0016] FIG. 7 shows an exploded view of the support member in FIG. 5 .

[0017] FIG8 is a schematic structural diagram showing a display module provided according to an embodiment of the present disclosure having two supporting members.

[0018] FIG9 shows a schematic structural diagram of a display module provided according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, wherein the second encapsulation layer faces upward.

[0019] FIG10 shows a schematic structural diagram of a display module provided according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, wherein the second encapsulation layer faces upward.

[0020] FIG11 shows a diagram of mold layers of a display module provided according to some other embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0021] FIG12 shows a schematic structural diagram of a display module with two rotating shafts provided according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0022] FIG13 shows a schematic structural diagram of a display module with three rotating shafts provided according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0023] Figure numerals: 100-display module, 110-module layer group, 112a-flexible area, 112b-non-flexible area, 113-first encapsulation layer, 114-first connecting layer, 115-second encapsulation layer, 115a-first section, 115b-second section, 115c-coating, 116-second connecting layer, 117-polarizer, 118-display layer, 119-back film layer.

[0024] 120-support member, 121-support part, 121a-support strip, 121b-connecting part, 122-sliding part, 123-support plate, 124-first adhesive layer, 125-fixing plate, 126-second adhesive layer, 126a-adhesive strip, W1-first width, S1-first spacing, W2-second width, S2-second spacing.

[0025] 130 - rotating shaft, 131 - first rotating shaft, 132 - second rotating shaft, 133 - third rotating shaft. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] The following will clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making any creative efforts are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0027] It should be noted that all directional indications in the embodiments of the present invention are only used to explain the relative position relationship, movement status, etc. between the various components in a certain specific posture. If the specific posture changes, the directional indication will also change accordingly. In the present invention, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the terms "connection", "fixed", etc. should be understood in a broad sense. For example, "fixed" can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integrated connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, it can be the internal connection of two elements or the interaction relationship between two elements, unless otherwise clearly defined. For ordinary technicians in this field, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood according to the specific circumstances.

[0028] Furthermore, terms such as "first," "second," and so forth, used in this disclosure are for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, features defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one such feature. Furthermore, the technical solutions of various embodiments may be combined, but only if they are achievable by persons of ordinary skill in the art. If a combination of technical solutions contradicts or is unachievable, such combination shall be deemed non-existent and outside the scope of protection claimed by this disclosure.

[0029] Organic Light Emitting Display (OLED) displays are becoming the preferred display technology. They offer numerous advantages, including self-luminescence, fast response time, high clarity and contrast, and a degree of flexibility and adaptability. To capitalize on these characteristics, the display industry has developed foldable products in various forms. While these foldable forms offer consumers a new experience, they also have limitations, such as the ability to switch between only two display areas and the creases caused by continuous folding in a fixed position.

[0030] In related technologies, foldable displays have a flexible portion wrapped around a shaft, allowing them to rotate relative to the shaft to achieve a variety of display areas. However, during rotation, the flexible portion comes into contact with the shaft, causing stress and strain in the wrapped portion, leading to deformation of the flexible portion. The display module and display device provided by the present disclosure can alleviate this problem. The display module and display device provided by the present disclosure can reduce stress and strain in the module layer assembly while ensuring the mechanical properties of all components.

[0031] The present disclosure is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments:

[0032] 1 and 2 , an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a display module 100 . The display module 100 provided by the embodiment of the present disclosure can reduce the possibility of the module layer group 110 breaking during the sliding process, thereby increasing the service life of the entire display module 100 .

[0033] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the display module 100 includes: a module layer group 110, a support member 120 and a rotating shaft 130, the module layer group 110 includes a flexible area 112a and a non-flexible area 112b connected to the flexible area 112a; the support member 120 includes a supporting portion 121 and a sliding portion 122 connected to the support portion 121, the supporting portion 121 is at least arranged in the flexible area 112a, and the sliding portion 122 is slidably connected to the shell; the flexible area 112a is arranged around the rotating shaft 130, so that at least part of the flexible area 112a can be overlapped with the non-flexible area 112b; in some embodiments, the support member 120 is arranged between the module layer group 110 and the rotating shaft 130.

[0034] In some embodiments, the module assembly 110 includes a display layer 118, an encapsulation layer, and other key components of the display module 100. The non-display surface of the module assembly 110 is disposed around a hinge 130, allowing the module assembly 110 to slide relative to the hinge 130, thereby enabling the display module 100 to have a variety of display areas.

[0035] The support portion 121 is provided at least in the flexible area 112a, which means that the support portion 121 can be provided only in the flexible area 112a, or can be provided in both the flexible area 112a and the non-flexible area 112b, as long as the support portion 121 is provided in the flexible area 112a. The support member 120 is provided between the module assembly 110 and the rotating shaft 130, and the non-display surface of the module assembly 110 contacts the rotating shaft 130. The support member 120 is provided on the non-display surface of the module assembly 110 and between the rotating shaft 130 and the module assembly 110, so that the non-display surface of the module assembly 110 does not directly contact the rotating shaft 130.

[0036] The sliding portion 122 is slidably connected to the shell, that is, the supporting portion 121 can be slidably connected to the shell through the sliding portion 122, and the supporting portion 121 is arranged on the non-display surface of the flexible area 112a. During the sliding process of the entire module group 110, the supporting portion 121 and the sliding portion 122 can work together to provide a certain support for the module group 110, reducing the stress generated by the module group 110 during the structure with the rotating shaft 130, thereby reducing the stress and strain on the module group 110, reducing the possibility of breakage of the module group 110 during the sliding process, and thus improving the service life of the entire display module 100.

[0037] In the embodiment of the present disclosure, the mold layer group 110 is roughly rectangular. For the convenience of description, the sliding direction of the mold layer group 110 is defined as the length direction (such as the X-axis direction shown in Figures 1 and 2), and the direction of the other side is defined as the width direction (such as the Y-axis direction shown in Figures 1 and 2).

[0038] In some embodiments, a slide rail may be provided on the shell, and the sliding portion 122 may be assembled in the slide rail so that when the module group 110 is expanded or contracted, the sliding portion 122 may slide relative to the slide rail, thereby reducing friction with the shell and facilitating expansion or contraction of the module group 110.

[0039] Please refer to Figure 3. In some embodiments, the support portion 121 includes a plurality of support bars 121a and a plurality of connecting portions 121b. In the sliding direction of the mold layer group 110, the plurality of support bars 121a are spaced apart in the flexible area 112a, and the connecting portion 121b connects two adjacent support bars 121a. There are multiple sliding portions 122, and the sliding portions 122 are installed on the connecting portions 121b.

[0040] In some embodiments, the support bars 121a are in the shape of long strips, and multiple support bars 121a are sequentially spaced apart along the sliding direction of the module assembly 110. That is, the multiple support bars 121a are sequentially spaced apart along the length direction of the module assembly 110, and the extension direction of the support bars 121a is the same as the width direction of the module assembly 110. That is, the support bars 121a span the module assembly 110, the length direction of the support bars 121a is the width direction of the module assembly 110, and the width direction of the support bars 121a is the sliding direction of the module assembly 110, that is, the length direction of the module assembly 110.

[0041] Both ends of the support bar 121a are provided with connecting portions 121b. In other words, both ends of the support bar 121a are provided with sliding portions 122, and both ends of the support bar 121a are slidably connected to the housing via the sliding portions 122. In other words, the support portions 121 can support the module assembly 110 from both sides in the width direction of the module assembly 110, thereby increasing the supporting force for the module assembly 110, reducing the stress on the module assembly 110 during contact with the rotating shaft 130, and reducing the risk of fracture of the module assembly 110, thereby increasing the service life of the module assembly 110.

[0042] The multiple support bars 121 a are arranged at intervals, which can not only provide sufficient support force for the module layer group 110 , but also provide a certain pressing tactile feeling when the user operates the entire display module 100 , thereby improving the user experience.

[0043] The connecting portion 121b can connect two adjacent support bars 121a in at least two different connection methods. Taking four consecutive adjacent support bars 121a as an example, namely the first support bar 121a, the second support bar 121a, the third support bar 121a, and the fourth support bar 121a, in some embodiments, the left end of the first support bar 121a can be connected to the left end of the second support bar 121a, and the right end of the first support bar 121a can be connected to the right end of the second support bar 121a. The left end of the third support bar 121a can be connected to the left end of the fourth support bar 121a, and the right end of the third support bar 121a can be connected to the right end of the fourth support bar 121a. In other words, the two support bars 121a can form a whole.

[0044] In addition, the left end of the first support bar 121a can be connected to the left end of the second support bar 121a, the right end of the second support bar 121a can be connected to the right end of the third support bar 121a, the left end of the third support bar 121a can be connected to the left end of the fourth support bar 121a, and so on, so that the entire support portion 121 is roughly in the form of multiple continuous Z shapes.

[0045] In some embodiments, in the sliding direction of the mold layer assembly 110 , the width of the support bar 121 a is a first width W1 , the width of the connecting portion 121 b is a second width W2 , and the second width W2 is greater than the first width W1 .

[0046] In some embodiments, the support bar 121a spans the module assembly 110 and is mounted on the flexible zone 112a, following the flexible zone 112a around the rotating shaft 130. To balance the supporting force of the support bar 121a on the module assembly 110 with the flexibility of the flexible zone 112a, the width of the support bar 121a along the length of the module assembly 110 can be set to be relatively small. The connecting portion 121b is connected to the sliding portion 122, which needs to be slidably connected to the housing. If the width of the connecting portion 121b is set to be relatively small, the sliding portion 122 will be more difficult to install. Therefore, the connecting portion 121b and the support bar 121a can be set to different widths to meet their respective needs.

[0047] Thus, the second width W2 can be greater than the first width W1, and the width of the support bar 121a is smaller, so that the support bar 121a can maintain a certain degree of flexibility while supporting the mold layer assembly 110. The width of the connecting portion 121b is set larger to facilitate the assembly of the sliding portion 122.

[0048] In some embodiments, in the sliding direction of the mold layer assembly 110 , the spacing between two adjacent support bars 121 a is a first spacing S1 , and the spacing between two adjacent connection portions 121 b is a second spacing S2 , which is greater than the first spacing S1 .

[0049] The support bars 121a span the module assembly 110 and are installed within the flexible region 112a. They follow the flexible region 112a and are wound around the rotating shaft 130. The width of the support member 120 should not be too large. When the width of the support bars 121a is small, in order to improve the support force of the entire support member 120 on the module assembly 110, a larger number of support bars 121a is required. In other words, the distance between two adjacent support bars 121a needs to be smaller, that is, the first spacing S1 needs to be smaller to ensure the support force of the entire support member 120 on the module assembly 110.

[0050] The connecting portion 121b is connected to the sliding portion 122, and the sliding portion 122 needs to slide relative to the shell. A certain spacing distance needs to be maintained between the two adjacent sliding portions 122 to avoid interference between the two adjacent sliding portions 122 as much as possible. Therefore, the spacing distance between the two adjacent sliding portions 122 needs to be set larger, and the sliding portion 122 is installed on the connecting portion 121b. Therefore, the spacing distance between the two adjacent connecting portions 121b needs to be set larger, that is, the second spacing S2 needs to be larger.

[0051] Therefore, the second spacing S2 can be greater than the first spacing S1. The first spacing S1 between two adjacent support bars 121a is smaller, which can increase the supporting force of the mold layer group 110. The second spacing S2 between two adjacent connecting parts 121b is larger, which can provide a certain sliding activity to the sliding part 122 and avoid interference as much as possible.

[0052] In some embodiments, the first spacing S1 is greater than 0.5 mm and less than 1 mm. The first width W1 is greater than 0.5 mm and less than 1 mm. The support bars 121a are primarily used to support the mold layer assembly 110. The first spacing S1 and the first width W1 cannot be set too large. If they are set too large, the mold layer assembly 110 will be subjected to excessive stress and may deform. The first spacing S1 is greater than 0.5 mm and less than 1 mm, and the first width W1 is greater than 0.5 mm and less than 1 mm, which can reduce the strain on the mold layer assembly 110.

[0053] In some embodiments, the first spacing S1 may be 0.5 mm, 0.6 mm, 0.7 mm, 0.8 mm, 0.9 mm, or 1 mm. The first width W1 may be 0.5 mm, 0.6 mm, 0.7 mm, 0.8 mm, 0.9 mm, or 1 mm.

[0054] In some embodiments, in the sliding direction of the mold layer assembly 110, the width of the connecting portion 121b is a second width W2, the spacing between two adjacent connecting portions 121b is a second spacing S2, and the sum of the second width W2 and the second spacing S2 is greater than 2 mm. Since the first width W1 and the first spacing S1 are both less than 1 mm, the connecting portion 121b needs to connect two adjacent support bars 121a and provide a large sliding space for the sliding portion 122. Therefore, the sum of the second width W2 and the second spacing S2 can be greater than 2 mm.

[0055] In some embodiments, the sum of the second width W2 and the second spacing S2 may be 2.1 mm, 2.2 mm, 2.3 mm, 2.4 mm, 2.5 mm, or 2.6 mm.

[0056] In some embodiments, the support bar 121 a may be disposed only in the flexible region 112 a , and the support member 120 further includes a support plate 123 , which may be disposed in the inflexible region 112 b .

[0057] Please refer to Figure 4. In some embodiments, the support member 120 also includes a first adhesive layer 124, a fixing plate 125 and a second adhesive layer 126 that are overlapped in sequence. The first adhesive layer 124 is bonded to the mold layer group 110, and the second adhesive layer 126 is bonded to the support portion 121.

[0058] The fixing plate 125 is bonded to the mold layer group 110 through the first adhesive layer 124, and the support part 121 is fixed to the fixing plate 125 through the second adhesive layer 126. The thickness of the fixing plate 125 can be 100um~150um, the tensile modulus can be 3MPa~20MPa, and the material can be steel material or carbon fiber material. The use of carbon fiber material can reduce the weight of the module.

[0059] In some embodiments, the thickness of the fixing plate 125 may be 105 mm, 110 mm, 115 mm, 120 mm, 125 mm, 130 mm, etc., and the tensile modulus may be 4 MPa, 6 MPa, 10 MPa, 14 MPa, 18 MPa, etc.

[0060] In some embodiments, the first adhesive layer 124 includes a substrate and a PSA (pressure sensitive adhesive) adhesive. The substrate has a thickness of 25um-75um and is made of PI (Polyimide) material or PET (polyethylene terephthalate) material. The PSA adhesive has a thickness of 25um-75um and is a low-modulus adhesive or a medium-modulus adhesive with a storage modulus of 20KPa to 100KPa. The bonding force with the fixing plate 125 should be greater than 1000gf / inch, and the melting point can be less than -20°C. This layer can significantly reduce the mold print of the module.

[0061] Similarly, the second adhesive layer 126 includes a base material and PSA glue. The base material of the second adhesive layer 126 is a soft material with a thickness of 10um to 50um and a Young's modulus less than 30MPa. TPU (Thermoplastic polyurethanes) or foam can be selected. The PSA glue is 25um-75um thick and has a storage modulus of 20KPa to 100KPa. It is a low modulus glue or a medium modulus glue. The bonding force with the support part 121 should be greater than 1000gf / inch, and the melting point can be less than -20°C.

[0062] In some embodiments, the substrate thickness of the first adhesive layer 124 can be 30 μm, 35 μm, 40 μm, 45 μm, 50 μm, 60 μm, 70 μm, etc., the PSA adhesive thickness of the first adhesive layer 124 can be 30 μm, 35 μm, 40 μm, 45 μm, 50 μm, 60 μm, 70 μm, etc., and the storage modulus can be 30 KPa, 40 KPa, 50 KPa, 60 KPa, 70 KPa, 80 KPa, 90 KPa, etc. The bonding strength with the fixing plate 125 can be 1100 gf / inch, 1200 gf / inch, 1250 gf / inch, 1300 gf / inch, 1350 gf / inch, and the melting point can be -22°C, -25°C, -26°C, -29°C, -30°C, etc.

[0063] The base material thickness of the second adhesive layer 126 can be 30 μm, 35 μm, 40 μm, 45 μm, 50 μm, 60 μm, 70 μm, etc. The PSA adhesive thickness of the second adhesive layer 126 can be 30 μm, 35 μm, 40 μm, 45 μm, 50 μm, 60 μm, 70 μm, etc. The storage modulus can be 30 KPa, 40 KPa, 50 KPa, 60 KPa, 70 KPa, 80 KPa, 90 KPa, etc. The bonding strength with the support portion 121 can be 1100 gf / inch, 1200 gf / inch, 1250 gf / inch, 1300 gf / inch, 1350 gf / inch. The melting point can be -22°C, -25°C, -26°C, -29°C, -30°C, etc.

[0064] In some embodiments, in the width direction of the module group 110, the distance between the edge of the projection of the second adhesive layer 126 on the module group 110 and the edge of the module group 110 is less than 2.5 mm. This arrangement allows the second adhesive layer 126 to be retracted upward in the width direction of the module group 110, thereby reducing the risk of peeling of the second adhesive layer 126.

[0065] The distance between the edge of the projection of the second adhesive layer 126 on the mold layer assembly 110 and the edge of the mold layer assembly 110 may be 2.4 mm, 2.3 mm, 2.2 mm, 2.1 mm, 1.8 mm, etc.

[0066] Referring to Figures 2 and 3 , in some embodiments, the second adhesive layer 126 covers the gap between the support bar 121a and two adjacent support bars 121a. The second adhesive layer 126 can be a single unitary layer disposed between the support bar 121a and the fixing plate 125. A second adhesive layer 126 is also disposed in the gap between two adjacent support bars 121a. In this case, the second adhesive layer 126 has a relatively large area, which facilitates the installation and fixing of the support bars 121a.

[0067] It should be noted that the second adhesive layer 126 is only provided on the support bar 121a and is not required in the area of ​​the connection portion 121b. That is, the area of ​​the connection portion 121b is not connected to the module assembly 110 via the second adhesive layer 126, the fixing plate 125, and the first adhesive layer 124. The sliding portion 122 is mounted on the connection portion 121b and is in sliding connection with the housing. This design reduces film strain on both ends of the module assembly 110 in the width direction as the sliding portion 122 slides relative to the housing, thereby improving the reliability of the entire display film.

[0068] The second adhesive layer 126 is only provided on the support bar 121a, i.e., an inward-retracted design is adopted to avoid the area where the connection portion 121b is located. According to simulation results, the strain of the encapsulation layer can be reduced by 20% to 35%, and the strain of the polarizer 117 substrate can be reduced by 5% to 15%.

[0069] 5, 6, and 7, in some other embodiments, the second adhesive layer 126 includes a plurality of adhesive strips 126a, and each support strip 121a is connected to the fixing plate 125 via an adhesive strip 126a. The second adhesive layer 126 is interrupted and formed into multiple independent adhesive strips 126a, which can reduce the risk of debonding of the integrated adhesive layer.

[0070] In some embodiments, the width of the adhesive strip 126a is greater than or equal to the width of the support strip 121a in the sliding direction of the mold layer assembly 110. This means that the adhesive strip 126a completely covers the support strip 121a, allowing the entire surface of the support body facing the fixing plate 125 to adhere to the support surface. This increases the bonding area between the support strip 121a and the fixing plate 125, thereby improving the firmness of the support strip 121a and reducing the risk of the support strip 121a falling off.

[0071] In some embodiments, the difference between the width of the adhesive strip 126a and the width of the support strip 121a in the sliding direction of the mold layer assembly 110 is greater than or equal to 0.1 mm. The difference can be 0.12 mm, 0.13 mm, 0.14 mm, 0.18 mm, 0.2 mm, 0.3 mm, etc.

[0072] In some embodiments, the projection of the sliding portion 122 on the module assembly 110 is located inside the module assembly 110 or is flush with the edge of the module assembly 110. In other words, the sliding portion 122 is located inside the module assembly 110 and is at most flush with the edge of the module assembly 110. This arrangement can reduce the frame of the module assembly 110, making the size of the entire display film assembly more compact.

[0073] In some embodiments, the support plate 123 and the support bar 121a both provide support for the mold layer group 110, with a thickness of 200um-500um. There can be a connecting rib design between two adjacent support bars 121a, or filling materials such as silicone, TPU with a modulus of 1MPa-6MPa to ensure that the spacing between the two adjacent support bars 121a is stable to prevent collisions between adjacent steel strips during the sliding process.

[0074] In some embodiments, the thickness of the support plate 123 and the support bar 121a is 250um, 280um, 300um, 350um, 400um, 450um, 480um, etc.

[0075] Referring to FIG. 8 , in some embodiments, there are multiple support members 120 , and the multiple support members 120 are sequentially arranged in the width direction of the mold layer assembly 110 .

[0076] In the width direction of the module group 110, multiple groups of support members 120 can be set. Compared with one support member 120, the length of each support member 120 in the width direction of the module group 110 is shorter and the contact area with the shell is larger. A sliding portion 122 can also be set in the middle position of the module group 110, so as to support the middle position of the module group 110, flatten the module group 110, reduce the risk of arching height in the middle of the module group 110, and reduce the possibility of strain in the module group 110.

[0077] As for the number of the support members 120 , it can be set according to the width of the module layer group 110 and is not specifically limited.

[0078] In some embodiments, the corresponding support bars 121a in two adjacent support members 120 may be connected by a single sliding portion 122, i.e., two adjacent support bars 121a in two support members 120 may share a single sliding portion 122. For example, when there are two support members 120, two support bars 121a of the same width in the width direction of the mold layer assembly 110 form a group. A group of support bars 121a may only have three sliding portions 122, and the middle sliding portion 122 needs to connect the support bars 121a of both support members 120.

[0079] In addition, two adjacent support members 120 can also be spaced apart. In two adjacent support members 120, the sliding portions 122 are adjacently arranged, so the spacing distance between the two adjacent support members 120 can be set with reference to the spacing distance between the two adjacent sliding portions 122, that is, the spacing distance between the two adjacent connecting portions 121b can be set with reference to the second spacing distance.

[0080] Referring to Figure 4, in some embodiments, the module layer group 110 includes a first encapsulation layer 113, a first connection layer 114, a second encapsulation layer 115, a second connection layer 116, a polarizer 117, a display layer 118 and a back film layer 119 that are overlapped in sequence, and the back film layer 119 is connected to the support member 120.

[0081] The first encapsulation layer 113 can be made of PI (polyimide) or PET (polyethylene terephthalate) with a Young's modulus of approximately 4 GPa to 7 GPa and a thickness of 50 μm to 90 μm. In some embodiments, the surface of the first encapsulation layer 113 can be hardened to a thickness of 3 μm to 10 μm. This design ensures that the strain of the first connection layer 114 is within a safe range and prevents cracks in the hardened layer during the rolling process.

[0082] The thickness of the first encapsulation layer 113 may be 50 μm, 55 μm, 60 μm, 65 μm, 80 μm, 90 μm, etc., and the Young's modulus may be 4 GPa, 4.5 GPa, 5 GPa, 6 GPa, 7 GPa, etc. The thickness of the hardening layer may be 3 μm, 4 μm, 6 μm, 8 μm, 9 μm, 10 μm, etc.

[0083] The first connecting layer 114 is an Optically Clear Adhesive (OCA) adhesive with a thickness of 20-60 μm. A low-modulus adhesive with a storage modulus of less than 40 kPa is used, and the bonding strength with the first encapsulation layer 113 should be greater than 1500 gf / inch. Compared with conventional medium-modulus adhesives, this design can reduce the rebound force of the entire mold layer assembly 110 by 20% to 40%, and the strain of the first encapsulation layer 113 can be reduced by 10% to 20%.

[0084] In some embodiments, the thickness of the first connecting layer 114 may be 25um, 30um, 35um, 40um, 45um, 50um, 59um, etc., the storage modulus may be 39Kpa, 35Kpa, 30Kpa, 25Kpa, 20Kpa, etc., and the adhesion to the first encapsulation layer 113 may be 1510gf / inch, 1550gf / inch, 1600gf / inch, 1800gf / inch, 2000gf / inch, etc.

[0085] The second encapsulation layer 115 is a reinforcement layer. It can be made of UTG (Ultra-Thin Glass) with a Young's modulus exceeding 70 GPa and a thickness of 25-50 μm. This design, combined with the second connecting layer 116, significantly reduces the strain on the polarizer 117 by 20-50%, reducing the risk of substrate fracture in the case of small-radius rolls. Furthermore, the two-layer encapsulation design improves the module's pen-holding performance by 20-50% compared to a single-layer design.

[0086] In some embodiments, the second encapsulation layer 115 may have a thickness of 25 μm, 30 μm, 35 μm, 40 μm, 50 μm, etc. The Young's modulus may be 70 GPa, 80 GPa, 90 GPa, 95 GPa, 100 GPa, etc.

[0087] The second connecting layer 116 is OCA optical adhesive with a thickness of 20um-60um. A medium modulus adhesive with a storage modulus greater than 60kPa is selected. The bonding force with the second packaging layer 115 should be greater than 1500gf / inch. The medium modulus OCA can raise the neutral layer of the module and reduce the normal strain of the polarizer 117 to a safe range, preventing the polarizer 117 substrate from breaking.

[0088] In some embodiments, the thickness of the second connection layer 116 can be 25 μm, 30 μm, 35 μm, 40 μm, 50 μm, 60 μm, etc. The storage modulus can be 60 KPa, 70 KPa, 80 KPa, 86 KPa, 90 KPa, etc. The bonding force with the second encapsulation layer 115 can be 1510 gf / inch, 1550 gf / inch, 1600 gf / inch, 1800 gf / inch, 2000 gf / inch, etc.

[0089] The polarizer 117 has a thickness of 40 μm to 70 μm. The substrate of the polarizer 117 can be made of rubber, PET, TAC (Tri-cellulose Acetate), COP (Cyclo Olefin Polymer), etc. The PSA should use a high-modulus adhesive with a storage modulus greater than 100 kPa to elevate the module neutral layer and reduce the strain of the encapsulation layer to a safe range. This prevents cracks in the display module 100 in a small-radius sliding state and encapsulation failure, which can lead to touch failure, abnormal display, no display, GDS (Growing Dark Spot), and other defects.

[0090] The thickness of the back film layer 119 is 40um-60um, and low modulus PI or PET material can be used, with a Young's modulus of 3GPa-5GPa. According to simulation and test results, this design can provide sufficient support to ensure the yield of the binding process and reduce the strain of the functional layer at the junction of the non-flexible area 112b and the flexible area 112a.

[0091] In some embodiments, the thickness of the back film layer 119 may be 40um, 45um, 48um, 50um, 53um, 60um, etc., and the Young's modulus may be 3GPa, 3.5GPa, 3.8GPa, 4GPa, 5GPa, etc.

[0092] Referring to Figures 9 and 10, in some embodiments, the second encapsulation layer 115 includes a first segment 115a and a second segment 115b connected to each other, the thickness of the first segment 115a is greater than the thickness of the second segment 115b, the first segment 115a is disposed in the non-flexible region 112b, and the second segment 115b is disposed in the flexible region 112a.

[0093] In some embodiments, the first segment 115a and the second segment 115b are integrally formed and may be integrally formed. The thicknesses of the first segment 115a and the second segment 115b are different, resulting in the second encapsulation layer 115 being designed with unequal thicknesses, with a greater thickness in the non-flexible region 112b and a smaller thickness in the flexible region 112a. Because the first segment 115a and the second segment 115b are designed with unequal thicknesses, a certain step exists between the first segment 115a and the second segment 115b. This step can be positioned upward, as shown in FIG9 , or downward, as shown in FIG10 . This step can be filled with an additional coating 115c, i.e., the coating 115c can be applied to the second segment 115b, so that the first segment 115a and the second segment 115b are flush within an allowable tolerance.

[0094] In some embodiments, the thickness of the first section 115a can be 60um-80um, and the second packaging layer 115 of unequal thickness can further improve the pen-holding performance of the non-flexible area 112b. A patterned blind hole or through hole design can be used in the flexible area 112a to reduce the tensile modulus of the second section 115b, reduce the module rebound force, and the strain of the key module layer.

[0095] Please refer to FIG. 11 . In addition, in other embodiments, the second encapsulation layer 115 and the second connection layer 116 may not be provided. If the second encapsulation layer 115 and the second connection layer 116 are not provided, the parameters of each mold layer are as follows:

[0096] The first encapsulation layer 113 is made of PI or PET material, with surface hardening treatment, a Young's modulus of approximately 4GPa-7GPa, and a thickness of 70um-90um, which is conducive to raising the neutral layer of the display layer 118, making it closer to the first encapsulation layer 113, and reducing the risk of failure of the touch layer and functional layer.

[0097] In some embodiments, the Young's modulus of the first encapsulation layer 113 is approximately 4 GPa, 4.5 GPa, 5 GPa, 5.4 GPa, 7 GPa, etc. The thickness of the first encapsulation layer 113 can be 70 um, 75 um, 78 um, 80 um, 83 um, 90 um, etc.

[0098] The first connecting layer 114 is OCA optical adhesive with a thickness of 25um-50um and a storage modulus of 50KPa-70KPa. This design can effectively reduce the risk of peeling of the adhesive layer and keep the strain of other adhesive layers within a safe range.

[0099] In some embodiments, the thickness of the first connection layer 114 may be 25 μm, 30 μm, 35 μm, 45 μm, or 50 μm, and the storage modulus may be 50 KPa, 55 KPa, 60 KPa, 64 KPa, 68 KPa, or 70 KPa.

[0100] The polarizer 117 has a thickness of 60 μm to 70 μm and a Young's modulus of 4 GPa to 5 GPa. The polarizer 117 may include a linear polarizing layer, a phase difference layer, a TAC film, a COP film, a pressure-sensitive adhesive, and the like.

[0101] In some embodiments, the thickness of the polarizer 117 may be 60um, 62um, 64um, 65um, 68um, 70um, etc., and the Young's modulus may be 4GPa, 4.1GPa, 4.2GPa, 4.5GPa, 4.7GPa, 5GPa, etc.

[0102] The display layer 118 has display and touch functions, and the polarizing material can also be integrated into the display layer 118. If this design is used, the polarizer 117 can be eliminated. Under this condition, the first connecting layer 114 should use a higher modulus adhesive to reduce the strain of the touch layer and the packaging layer. The storage modulus range of the first connecting layer 114 is changed to 50KPa-130KP, specifically 50KPa, 60KPa, 70KPa, 90KPa, 110KPa, 130KPa, etc. In other embodiments, the display layer 118 may not have a touch function, and the touch layer may also be designed to be external.

[0103] The back film layer 119 has a thickness of 40um-60um and can use low modulus PI or PET material with a Young's modulus of 3GPa-4GPa. According to simulation and test results, this design can provide sufficient support to ensure the yield of the binding process and reduce the strain of the functional layer at the junction of the non-flexible area 112b and the flexible area 112a.

[0104] In some embodiments, the thickness of the back film layer 119 may be 40um, 43um, 48um, 50um, 55um, 60um, etc., and the Young's modulus may be 3GPa, 3.2GPa, 3.5GPa, 3.8GPa, 4GPa, etc.

[0105] The first adhesive layer 124 is made of a foam substrate with a thickness of 50um-100um and a glue material with a thickness of 20um-30um and a storage modulus greater than 100KPa. The adhesion force with the fixing plate 125 should be greater than 1000gf / inch. This structure can pass the reliability test.

[0106] In some embodiments, the thickness of the foam substrate of the first adhesive layer 124 can be 50um, 60um, 70um, 80um, 90um, 100um, etc., the thickness of the glue material can be 20um, 22um, 25um, 28um, 30um, etc., the storage modulus can be 110Kpa, 120Kpa, 125Kpa, 130Kpa, 140Kpa, etc., and the adhesion to the fixing plate 125 can be 1100gf / inch, 1240gf / inch, 1250gf / inch, 1320gf / inch, 2000gf / inch, etc.

[0107] The modulus of the fixing plate 125 in the tensile direction should be less than 4 MPa. This design can reduce the risk of peeling of the first adhesive layer 124 and the second adhesive layer 126.

[0108] The tensile modulus of the fixing plate 125 may be 3.5 MPa, 3.4 MPa, 3.2 MPa, 3 MPa, 2.5 MPa, or the like.

[0109] The second adhesive layer 126 has a base material thickness of 20μm-30μm and uses a pressure-sensitive adhesive with a thickness of 15μm-30μm and a storage modulus greater than 100KPa. The adhesion between the second adhesive layer 126 and the fixing plate 125 should be greater than 1000gf / inch. According to simulation and test results, this design can reduce the risk of poor peeling of the adhesive layer here.

[0110] The base material thickness of the second adhesive layer 126 can be 20 μm, 22 μm, 26 μm, 28 μm, 30 μm, etc. The storage modulus of the pressure-sensitive adhesive of the second adhesive layer 126 can be 105 KPa, 110 KPa, 120 KPa, 130 KPa, 140 KPa, etc. The adhesion force between the second adhesive layer 126 and the fixing plate 125 can be 1100 gf / inch, 1120 gf / inch, 1180 gf / inch, 1200 gf / inch, 1250 gf / inch, etc.

[0111] Please refer to FIG. 12 . In some embodiments, there are multiple rotating shafts 130 , and the flexible regions 112 a are sequentially wound around the rotating shafts 130 .

[0112] A plurality of rotating shafts 130 may be provided, and the flexible region 112 a may be sequentially wound around the rotating shafts 130 , thereby enabling the flexible region 112 a to be folded and unfolded.

[0113] In some embodiments, the non-display surface of the module assembly 110 may be wound around multiple shafts 130, or the display surface and non-display surface of the module assembly 110 may be alternately wound around two adjacent shafts 130. That is, in some embodiments, if one of the two adjacent shafts 130 is in contact with the non-display surface of the module assembly 110, the other is in contact with the display surface of the module assembly 110. The alternating contact between the display surface and the non-display surface allows the module assembly 110 to shift in two opposite directions, which can offset the stress generated by the two adjacent shafts 130 to a certain extent, thereby reducing the risk of strain on the module assembly 110.

[0114] It should be noted that the distance between two adjacent rotating shafts 130 should be greater than the thickness of the mold layer assembly 110 .

[0115] In some embodiments, the radii of the plurality of rotating shafts 130 decrease sequentially in the sliding direction of the shrinking mold assembly 110. That is, the radius of the rotating shaft 130 closer to the junction of the flexible region 112a and the non-flexible region 112b increases, and the radius of the rotating shaft 130 that is first drawn into the flexible region 112a is the largest.

[0116] In some embodiments, if there are two rotating shafts 130, the rotating shafts 130 include a first rotating shaft 131 and a second rotating shaft 132 arranged in sequence in the sliding direction of the contraction of the mold layer group 110, and the radius of the first rotating shaft 131 is greater than the radius of the second rotating shaft 132, the radius of the first rotating shaft 131 is less than 3 mm, and the radius of the second rotating shaft 132 is greater than 1.5 mm.

[0117] In some embodiments, the first rotating shaft 131 serves as an outer sliding rotating shaft, contacting the non-display surface, and the second rotating shaft 132 serves as an inner sliding rotating shaft, contacting the display surface. It can be considered that the mold layer group 110 contacts the first rotating shaft 131 in an outer curved form and contacts the second rotating shaft 132 in an inner curved form. The radius of the first rotating shaft 131 is less than 3 mm, which can make the sliding radius of the entire display film group less than 3 mm. The radius of the second rotating shaft 132 is greater than 1.5 mm, which can make the inner curvature radius of the mold layer group 110 less than 1.5 mm, thereby reducing the risk of failure of the mold layer group 110.

[0118] Please refer to Figure 13. If there are three rotating shafts 130, the rotating shafts 130 include a first rotating shaft 131, a second rotating shaft 132 and a third rotating shaft 133 arranged in sequence in the sliding direction of the contraction of the mold layer group 110. The radius of the first rotating shaft 131 is greater than the radius of the second rotating shaft 132, and the radius of the second rotating shaft 132 is greater than the radius of the third rotating shaft 133. The radius of the first rotating shaft 131 is less than 2.5 mm, and the radius of the second rotating shaft 132 is greater than 1.5 mm.

[0119] Similarly, the first rotating shaft 131 serves as an outer sliding rotating shaft, contacting the non-display surface; the second rotating shaft 132 serves as an inner sliding rotating shaft, contacting the display surface; and the third rotating shaft 133 serves as an outer sliding rotating shaft, contacting the non-display surface, so that sufficient space is left between the display surface and the non-display surface of the module layer assembly 110 to place the entire machine structure and electronic components.

[0120] To sum up, in the display module 100 provided by the embodiment of the present disclosure, the sliding portion 122 is slidably connected to the shell, that is, the support portion 121 can be slidably connected to the shell through the sliding portion 122, and the support portion 121 is arranged on the non-display surface of the flexible area 112a. During the sliding process of the entire module group 110, the support portion 121 and the sliding portion 122 can work together to provide a certain support for the module group 110, reducing the stress generated by the module group 110 during the structure with the rotating shaft 130, thereby reducing the stress and strain on the module group 110, reducing the possibility of breakage of the module group 110 during the sliding process, and thus improving the service life of the entire display module 100.

[0121] In the description of this specification, the reference terms "one embodiment", "some embodiments", "example", "specific example", or "some examples" mean that the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described in conjunction with the embodiment or example are included in at least one embodiment or example of the present disclosure. In this specification, the schematic representations of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Moreover, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described can be combined in any one or more embodiments or examples in a suitable manner. In addition, those skilled in the art can combine and combine different embodiments or examples described in this specification.

[0122] In addition, the technical solutions between the various implementation methods can be combined with each other, but they must be based on the fact that ordinary technicians in this field can implement them. When the combination of technical solutions is mutually contradictory or cannot be implemented, it should be deemed that such a combination of technical solutions does not exist and is not within the scope of protection required by this disclosure.

[0123] Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations may be made to the embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the present disclosure, the scope of which is defined by the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A display module, comprising: A module layer group, including a flexible area and a non-flexible area connected to the flexible area; A support member, including a support portion and a sliding portion connected to the support portion, the support portion is at least disposed in the flexible area, and the sliding portion is slidably connected to the housing; A rotating shaft, the flexible area is wound around the rotating shaft, so that at least a part of the flexible area can be overlapped with the non-flexible area; Wherein, the support member is disposed between the module layer group and the rotating shaft.

2. The display module according to claim 1, wherein, The support portion includes a plurality of support bars and a plurality of connecting portions. In the sliding direction of the module layer group, the plurality of support bars are spaced apart from each other in the flexible area, and the connecting portions connect two adjacent support bars; The sliding portions are multiple, and the sliding portions are mounted on the connecting portions.

3. The display module according to claim 2, wherein, In the sliding direction of the module layer group, the spacing distance between two adjacent support bars is a first spacing, the spacing distance between two adjacent connecting portions is a second spacing, and the second spacing is greater than the first spacing.

4. The display module according to claim 2, wherein, In the sliding direction of the module layer group, the width of the support bar is a first width, the width of the connecting portion is a second width, and the second width is greater than the first width.

5. The display module according to claim 2, wherein, In the sliding direction of the module layer group, the spacing distance between two adjacent support bars is a first spacing, the first spacing is greater than 0.5 mm and less than 1 mm, the width of the support bar is a first width, and the first width is greater than 0.5 mm and less than 1 mm.

6. The display module according to claim 2, wherein, In the sliding direction of the module layer group, the width of the connecting portion is a second width, the spacing distance between two adjacent connecting portions is a second spacing, and the sum of the second width and the second spacing is greater than 2 mm.

7. The display module according to claim 2, wherein, The support member further includes a first adhesive layer, a fixing plate, and a second adhesive layer that are sequentially overlapped. The first adhesive layer is adhered to the module layer group, and the second adhesive layer is adhered to the support portion.

8. The display module according to claim 7, wherein, In the width direction of the module layer group, the distance between the projection edge of the second adhesive layer on the module layer group and the edge of the module layer group is less than 2.5 mm.

9. The display module according to claim 7, wherein, The second adhesive layer covers the support bars and the gaps between two adjacent support bars.

10. The display module according to claim 7, wherein, The second adhesive layer includes a plurality of adhesive strips, and each support bar is connected to the flexible area through the adhesive strip.

11. The display module according to claim 10, wherein, In the sliding direction of the module layer group, the width of the adhesive strip is greater than or equal to the width of the support bar.

12. The display module according to claim 10, wherein, In the sliding direction of the module layer group, the difference between the width of the adhesive strip and the width of the support bar is greater than or equal to 0.1 mm.

13. The display module according to claim 7, wherein, The thickness of the first adhesive layer is 25 um - 75 um, and the thickness of the second adhesive layer is 25 um - 75 um.

14. The display module according to any one of claims 1-13, wherein, The projection of the sliding portion on the module layer group is located within the module layer group or flush with the edge of the module layer group.

15. The display module according to any one of claims 1-14, wherein, The support members are multiple, and the multiple support members are sequentially arranged in the width direction of the module layer group.

16. The display module according to any one of claims 1-15, wherein, The module layer group includes a first encapsulation layer, a first connection layer, a polarizer, a display layer, and a back film layer that are sequentially overlapped, and the back film layer is connected to the support member.

17. The display module according to claim 16, wherein, The mold layer group further includes a second encapsulation layer and a second connection layer. The second encapsulation layer is disposed between the first connection layer and the second connection layer, and the second connection layer is disposed between the second encapsulation layer and the polarizer. The second encapsulation layer includes a first section and a second section connected to each other. The thickness of the first section is greater than that of the second section. The first section is disposed in the non-flexible region, and the second section is disposed in the flexible region.

18. The display module according to claim 17, wherein, The thickness of the first encapsulation layer is 50um - 90um, the thickness of the first connection layer is 20um - 60um, the thickness of the second encapsulation layer is 25um - 50um, the thickness of the second connection layer is 20um - 60um, the thickness of the polarizer is 40um - 70um, and the thickness of the back film layer is 40um - 60um.

19. The display module according to any one of claims 1-18, wherein, There are multiple rotation shafts, and the flexible region is sequentially wound around the rotation shafts. Different sides of the mold layer group are respectively in contact with two adjacent rotation shafts.

20. The display module according to claim 19, wherein, In the sliding direction of the contraction of the mold layer group, the radii of the multiple rotation shafts decrease in sequence.

21. The display module according to claim 19, wherein, The rotation shaft includes a first rotation shaft and a second rotation shaft sequentially arranged in the sliding direction of the contraction of the mold layer group. The radius of the first rotation shaft is greater than that of the second rotation shaft. The radius of the first rotation shaft is less than 3mm, and the radius of the second rotation shaft is greater than 1.5mm.

22. The display module according to claim 19, wherein, The rotation shaft includes a first rotation shaft, a second rotation shaft, and a third rotation shaft sequentially arranged in the sliding direction of the contraction of the mold layer group. The radius of the first rotation shaft is greater than that of the second rotation shaft, and the radius of the second rotation shaft is greater than that of the third rotation shaft. The radius of the first rotation shaft is less than 2.5mm, and the radius of the second rotation shaft is greater than 1.5mm.

23. A display device, comprising the display module according to any one of claims 1 - 22.

Images