Display module and display device

Abstract

The present application relates to the technical field of display, and discloses a display module and a display device. The display module comprises a cushioning structure, a display panel, and a cover plate structure. The cushioning structure is located on the side of a bent part of the display panel facing away from a display part of the display panel; a first end of the cushioning structure is connected to the surface of the cover plate structure close to the display panel; and a second end of the cushioning structure is connected to the surface of a connecting part facing away from the display part. In this way, the cushioning structure is arranged on the outer side of the bent part of the display panel to protect the bent part, so that damage to the bent part caused by external impact force can be avoided; and the cushioning structure can further provide a dustproof and waterproof function for the bent part of the display panel.

Description

Display module and display device

[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese patent application No. 202410370024.X filed on March 28, 2024, entitled “Display Module and Display Device,” the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

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

[0003] Currently, display devices are used more and more widely, and commonly used display devices include smart phones, tablet computers, smart watches, etc. With the development of the times, the display device includes a display module, which is used to display images.

[0004] A display module includes a display panel and a circuit board. The display panel has a display portion and a bending portion located on one side of the display portion. The circuit board is located on the side of the display panel facing away from the display surface. The display panel is electrically connected to the circuit board through the bending portion by bending the bending portion to the side facing away from the display surface.

[0005] However, the bent portion of the display panel is more susceptible to damage from the external environment. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The embodiments of the present application provide a display module and a display device. The technical solution is as follows:

[0007] According to a first aspect of the present application, a display module is provided, comprising: a buffer structure and a stacked display panel and cover plate structure;

[0008] The cover structure includes a first area and a second area located outside the first area, and the orthographic projection of the display panel on the cover structure is located in the first area;

[0009] The display panel includes a display portion, and a bent portion and a connecting portion extending from an edge of the display portion and connected in sequence, wherein the bent portion and the connecting portion are located on a side of the display portion away from the cover structure;

[0010] The buffer structure is located on the side of the bending portion facing away from the display portion, the first end of the buffer structure is connected to a side of the cover structure close to the display panel, the orthographic projection of the first end of the buffer structure on the cover structure is located in the second area, and the second end of the buffer structure is connected to a side of the connecting portion facing away from the display portion.

[0011] Optionally, the buffer structure includes a stretching portion and a supporting portion connected to each other, the length of the stretching portion in a first direction and the length of the supporting portion in the first direction are both the same as the length of the buffer structure in the first direction, and the first direction is a direction parallel to the first edge of the display portion;

[0012] The elastic modulus of the stretching portion is smaller than the elastic modulus of the supporting portion.

[0013] Optionally, the stretching portion includes a first mesh structure and a first filling structure, the first mesh structure includes a plurality of first meshes, and at least a portion of the first filling structure is located in at least a portion of the first meshes among the plurality of first meshes.

[0014] Optionally, the first filling structure includes a plurality of first filling parts, the plurality of first filling parts correspond one-to-one to the plurality of first meshes, and each first filling part is located in a corresponding first mesh.

[0015] Optionally, the first filling structure further includes a first filling layer, the first filling layer covering one side of the first mesh structure and connected to the plurality of first filling parts;

[0016] The elastic modulus of the first filling structure is smaller than the elastic modulus of the support portion.

[0017] Optionally, the buffer structure includes at least one stretching portion and at least two supporting portions, and one stretching portion is located between two adjacent supporting portions.

[0018] Optionally, the buffer structure includes a plurality of the stretching portions and a plurality of the supporting portions, and the plurality of the stretching portions and the plurality of the supporting portions are alternately arranged.

[0019] Optionally, the ratio of the area of ​​the stretching portion to the area of ​​the buffer structure ranges from 10% to 60%.

[0020] Optionally, the elastic modulus of the support portion is greater than or equal to 1 GPa, and the elastic modulus of the stretching portion is less than or equal to 100 MPa;

[0021] The thickness of the buffer structure ranges from 20 microns to 80 microns.

[0022] Optionally, the display module further includes a stress protection layer, the stress protection layer being located on a side of the bent portion facing away from the display portion, and the display portion has a display surface;

[0023] The shortest distance between the buffer structure and the stress protection layer in a direction parallel to the display surface is less than or equal to 0.3 mm, and the shortest distance between the buffer structure and the stress protection layer in a direction perpendicular to the display surface is less than or equal to 0.2 mm.

[0024] Optionally, the plurality of support portions include a first support portion, a second support portion, a third support portion, and a fourth support portion; the plurality of stretching portions include a first stretching portion, a second stretching portion, and a third stretching portion; and the display portion has a display surface;

[0025] The first supporting portion, the first stretching portion, the second supporting portion, the second stretching portion, the third supporting portion, the third stretching portion, and the fourth supporting portion are connected in sequence, and the first supporting portion is in contact with a surface of the cover structure close to the display panel, and the fourth supporting portion is in contact with a surface of the supporting structure away from the display portion;

[0026] The second supporting portion and the third supporting portion are both plate-shaped, and the plate surface of the second supporting portion is perpendicular to the display surface, while the plate surface of the third supporting portion is parallel to the display surface.

[0027] Optionally, the buffer structure further includes a transition portion, the length of the transition portion in the first direction is the same as the length of the buffer structure in the first direction, the transition portion is located between the stretching portion and the supporting portion, and is connected to the stretching portion and the supporting portion respectively;

[0028] The elastic modulus of the transition portion is greater than the elastic modulus of the stretch portion, and the elastic modulus of the transition portion is smaller than the elastic modulus of the support portion.

[0029] Optionally, the transition portion includes a second mesh structure and a second filling structure, the second mesh structure includes a plurality of second meshes, and at least a portion of the second filling structure is located in the plurality of second meshes;

[0030] The density of the first meshes in the first mesh structure is smaller than the density of the second meshes in the second mesh structure.

[0031] According to another aspect of the present application, a display device is provided, comprising: a middle frame and a display module, wherein the display module is the above-mentioned display module, and the display module is located inside the middle frame.

[0032] Optionally, the display device further includes a buffer pad, which is located between the buffer structure and the middle frame, and is connected to the middle frame.

[0033] The beneficial effects of the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application include at least:

[0034] A display module is provided, comprising a buffer structure, a display panel, and a cover structure. The buffer structure is located on a side of a bent portion of the display panel facing away from the display portion of the display panel. A first end of the buffer structure is connected to a side of the cover structure that is closer to the display panel, and a second end of the buffer structure is connected to a side of the connection portion that is away from the display portion. By positioning the buffer structure outside the bent portion of the display panel to protect the bent portion, damage to the bent portion from external impact forces can be prevented. The buffer structure also protects the bent portion of the display panel from dust and water, thereby optimizing the impact resistance of the display module. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the description of the embodiments. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present application. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without any creative work.

[0036] FIG1 is a schematic structural diagram of a display device;

[0037] FIG2 is a schematic structural diagram of a display module provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0038] FIG3 is a schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure of the display module shown in FIG2 along position A1-A2;

[0039] FIG4 is a schematic structural diagram of a display device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0040] FIG5 is a schematic structural diagram of a buffer structure provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0041] FIG6 is a schematic structural diagram of a stretching portion in the buffer structure shown in FIG5 ;

[0042] FIG7 is a schematic diagram of a cross-sectional structure of the buffer structure shown in FIG6 along position B1-B2;

[0043] FIG8 is another schematic cross-sectional view of the buffer structure shown in FIG6 along position B1-B2;

[0044] FIG9 is a schematic structural diagram of another display module provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0045] FIG10 is a schematic structural diagram of the buffer structure in the display module shown in FIG9 ;

[0046] FIG11 is a schematic structural diagram of the buffer structure in the display module shown in FIG3 ;

[0047] FIG12 is a schematic structural diagram of another buffer structure provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0048] FIG13 is a schematic structural diagram of the stretching portion and the transition portion in the buffer structure shown in FIG12 ;

[0049] FIG14 is a schematic structural diagram of a display device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0050] FIG15 is a schematic structural diagram of a display device provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0051] The above drawings illustrate specific embodiments of the present application, which will be described in more detail below. These drawings and the textual description are not intended to limit the scope of the present application in any way, but rather to illustrate the concepts of the present application to those skilled in the art by reference to specific embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0052] In order to make the objectives, technical solutions and advantages of this application clearer, the implementation methods of this application will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0053] A flexible display panel refers to a display panel that can be bent. For example, the flexible display panel may be a display panel including an organic light emitting diode (OLED).

[0054] Referring to Figure 1 , the display device includes a display module and a device housing. The display module includes a display panel 11 and a driver chip (not shown). The device housing includes a middle frame 12 and a screen pressure bar 13. The display panel 11 can be a flexible display panel. In this display device, the flexible display panel can be packaged using a chip on plastic (COP) screen process to increase the display area ratio of the display device. The COP screen packaging process involves directly bending a portion of the flexible display panel to connect the flexible display panel to the driver chip located on the back of the flexible display panel.

[0055] As shown in Figure 1 , the display panel 11 includes a display portion 111, a bent portion 112 and a connecting portion 113, which are connected in sequence and located on one side of the display portion 111. The driver chip is located on the side of the display panel 11 facing away from the display surface p1. The display panel 11 is bent by bending the bent portion 112 to the side facing away from the display surface p1, thereby electrically connecting the connecting portion 113 to the driver chip located on the back side of the display panel 11. In this way, by bending the display panel 11 once, the bezel of the display module can be reduced, achieving a narrow-bezel design for the display module.

[0056] However, since the bent portion 112 of the display panel 11 is relatively fragile, when the display device falls, the middle frame 12 may deform and press the bent portion 112 of the display panel 11 , causing damage to the display module.

[0057] The display device can also be a foldable display device, and the display module (MDL) is a foldable display module. During the manufacturing process of the display device, after the display module and the middle frame 12 are assembled, the display side of the display module can be encapsulated using a screen pressing strip 13. Considering that the position of the display module will change before and after folding, there is a gap between the screen pressing strip 13 and the display module. This causes foreign matter such as dust or liquid to enter the gap between the display module and the middle frame 12 through the gap during the use of the display device, and gradually accumulate in the gap between the display module and the middle frame 12. The display module also includes a cover structure 14. During the assembly process of the display module, the cover structure 14 and the display panel 11 can be bonded first, and then the display panel 11 can be bent. Therefore, a reserved gap is provided between the bent portion 112 of the display panel 11 and the cover structure 14 to prevent the cover structure 14 from affecting the bending process of the display panel 11. However, foreign matter in the gap between the display module and the middle frame may also enter between the display panel 11 and the cover structure 14 through the reserved gap, causing poor display of the display panel 11 and affecting the display effect of the display panel 11.

[0058] In addition, as the gap between the display module and the middle frame 12 accumulates, the gap between the bent portion 112 of the display panel 11 in the display module and the middle frame 12 becomes smaller. When the display device falls, the possibility of the signal (SD) wiring on the display panel 11 breaking will be further increased, making it more likely to damage the display module.

[0059] The embodiments of the present application provide a display module and a display device that can solve the problems existing in the related art.

[0060] 2 and 3 , the display module 20 includes a buffer structure 21 , a stacked display panel 22 , and a cover structure 23 .

[0061] The cover structure 23 may include a first area and a second area located outside the first area, and the orthographic projection of the display panel 22 on the cover structure 23 is located in the first area. That is, the cover structure 23 may extend beyond the display panel 22 to protect the display panel 22.

[0062] The display panel 22 may include a display portion 221, and a bent portion 222 and a connecting portion 223 extending from the edge of the display portion 221 and connected in sequence. The display portion 221, the bent portion 222, and the connecting portion 223 may be an integral structure. The display portion 221 may have a display surface p1 and a back surface p2 relative to each other. The display portion 221 may include a display area and a fan-out area (English: Fanout) located on one side of the display area. The display area may include multiple display units, and the display units are used to emit light so that the display area can display images. The surface of the display area used to display images is the display surface p1 of the display portion 221. The edge of the fan-out area may contact the edge of the bent portion 222.

[0063] The bending portion 222 and the connecting portion 223 may be located on the side of the display portion 221 that is away from the cover structure 23. That is, the bending portion 222 and the connecting portion 223 are located on the side of the back surface p2 of the display portion 221 that is away from the display surface p1 of the display portion 221. The display panel 22 may include power lines and signal lines that transmit voltage signals to the multiple display units in the display area. The fan-out area may include multiple connecting lines, and the multiple connecting lines are electrically connected to the display units in the display area. The bending portion 222 may bend the connecting portion 223 to the side of the back surface p2 of the display portion 221 that is away from the display surface p1. The multiple connecting lines in the fan-out area may extend to the connecting portion 223 through the bending portion 222.

[0064] Referring to Figure 4 , the buffer structure 21 may be located on a side of the bent portion 222 of the display panel 22 that faces away from the display portion 221. The first end of the buffer structure 21 may be connected to a side of the cover structure 23 that is close to the display panel 22. The orthographic projection of the first end of the buffer structure 21 on the cover structure 23 is located in the second region of the cover structure 23. The second end of the buffer structure 21 may be connected to a side of the connection portion 223 that faces away from the display portion 221. In other words, the first end of the buffer structure 21 may be located on a side of the bent portion 222 of the display panel 22 that is close to a first edge s1 of the cover structure 23. The cover structure 23 may have multiple edges, with the first edge s1 being an edge adjacent to the bent portion 222 of the display panel 22. The second end of the buffer structure 21 may be located on a side of the bent portion 222 of the display panel 22 that is close to the connection portion 223. In this way, the buffer structure 21 can be located outside the bent portion 222 of the display panel 22 to protect the bent portion 222 of the display panel 22 and the multiple connection wires located on the bent portion 222. When the display device 30 falls, the deformed middle frame 40 may apply pressure to the bent portion 222 of the display panel 22. The buffer structure 21 can support the deformed middle frame 40 to cushion the pressure applied by the middle frame 40, preventing external impact forces from damaging the bent portion 222 of the display panel 22, such as preventing the connection wires located on the bent portion 222 from breaking.

[0065] Furthermore, since the first and second ends of the buffer structure 21 are respectively connected to the cover structure 23 and the connection portion 223 of the display panel 22, foreign matter (such as dust, water vapor, etc.) in the external environment can be prevented from adhering to the bending area of ​​the display panel 22, and foreign matter can also be prevented from entering the gap between the bending area of ​​the display panel 22 and the packaging cover. For example, dust can be prevented from entering the reserved gap between the bending portion 222 of the display panel 22 and the cover structure 23 as shown in FIG1, thereby preventing poor display of the display panel 22. In this way, the buffer structure 21 can also play a role in dustproofing and waterproofing the bending portion 222 of the display panel 22.

[0066] In summary, an embodiment of the present application provides a display module comprising: a buffer structure, a display panel, and a cover plate structure. The buffer structure is located on the side of the display panel's bent portion facing away from the display portion of the display panel, the first end of the buffer structure is connected to the side of the cover plate structure close to the display panel, and the second end of the buffer structure is connected to the side of the connection portion facing away from the display portion. Thus, by arranging the buffer structure on the outside of the bent portion of the display panel to protect the bent portion, damage to the bent portion caused by external impact forces can be avoided. The buffer structure can also protect the bent portion of the display panel from dust and water, thereby optimizing the impact resistance of the display module.

[0067] In an alternative embodiment, the buffer structure 21 may be a sheet-like or plate-like structure. This reduces the weight of the buffer structure 21, thereby achieving a lightweight display module 20. Furthermore, compared to a block-like buffer structure 21, a sheet-like or plate-like buffer structure 21 occupies less space, thereby reducing the distance between the display panel 22 and the first edge s1 of the cover structure 23, thereby shrinking the border of the display module 20 and achieving a narrow-border design for the display module 20.

[0068] In an optional embodiment, please refer to Figure 5. In Figure 5, in order to facilitate the arrangement of the stretching portion 211 and the support portion 212 on the buffer structure 21, the buffer structure 21 is shown when it is not bent. The buffer structure 21 may include a stretching portion 211 and a support portion 212 connected to each other, and the length of the stretching portion 211 in the first direction d1 and the length of the support portion 212 in the first direction d1 are both the same as the length of the buffer structure 21 in the first direction d1, and the first direction d1 is a direction parallel to the first edge s1 of the display portion 221; wherein the elastic modulus of the stretching portion 211 is less than the elastic modulus of the support portion 212.

[0069] The elastic modulus is the proportional coefficient between stress and strain in a material during its elastic deformation phase. A physical quantity that describes the elasticity of a substance, the elastic modulus can be considered an indicator of how easily a material undergoes elastic deformation. The larger the elastic modulus, the greater the stress required to produce a given elastic deformation, meaning the material has greater stiffness and, under a given stress, the less elastic deformation it undergoes.

[0070] In this way, the stretching portion 211 in the buffer structure 21 is more easily deformed than the supporting portion 212 , thereby increasing the energy absorption capacity of the buffer structure 21 and improving the buffering effect of the buffer structure 21 .

[0071] Compared to the stretching portion 211, the support portion 212 is less likely to deform under force. The support portion 212 can support the stretching portion 211 to provide sufficient support when the buffer structure 21 is subjected to external pressure, that is, when the buffer structure 21 is squeezed or pressed by an external force, to prevent the buffer structure 21 from collapsing due to squeezing, thereby affecting the bent portion 222 of the display panel 22.

[0072] For example, the elastic modulus of the support portion 212 of the buffer structure 21 is greater than or equal to 1 gigapascal (GPa), and the elastic modulus of the tensile portion 211 of the buffer structure 21 is less than or equal to 100 megapascals (MPa). Within this range, the buffer structure 21 has both sufficient elasticity and sufficient tensile strength to meet the requirements of the buffer structure 21 protecting the bent portion 222 of the display panel 22, thereby achieving better anti-extrusion performance for the display module 20.

[0073] Exemplarily, the material of the support portion 212 of the buffer structure 21 may include at least one of a metal material and a polymer material. For example, the material of the support portion 212 of the buffer structure 21 may include at least one of stainless steel (abbreviated: SUS), titanium alloy, copper alloy, polyester (English: polyethylene glycol terephthalate; abbreviated: PET) and polyimide (English: Polyimide; abbreviated: PI).

[0074] The thickness of the buffer structure 21 ranges from 20 μm to 80 μm, thereby forming a lightweight display module 20 .

[0075] In an optional embodiment, please refer to Figure 6. It should be noted that in Figure 6, the direction of the stretching portion 211 in Figure 5 is rotated to facilitate illustration of the structure of the stretching portion 211, and the actual structure of the stretching portion 211 is not changed. The stretching portion 211 may include a first mesh structure 2111 and a first filling structure 2112. The first mesh structure 2111 includes a plurality of first meshes k1, and at least a portion of the first filling structure 2112 is located in at least a portion of the first meshes k1 among the plurality of first meshes k1.

[0076] When the display device 30 is a foldable display device 30 and the display module 20 is a foldable display module 20, the relative positions of the first and second ends of the buffer structure 21 may change before and after the display module 20 is folded. In one exemplary embodiment, the shortest distance between the first and second ends of the buffer structure 21 in the folded display module 20 is greater than the shortest distance between the first and second ends of the buffer structure 21 in the folded display module 20. In this case, the first mesh structure 2111 can provide the stretchable portion 211 with elastic properties, allowing it to stretch to a certain length while also serving as an energy-absorbing buffer.

[0077] As shown in Figure 6, the first mesh structure 2111 can be a structure formed by staggered arrangement of multiple first meshes k1 in the transverse and / or longitudinal directions. Since the multiple first meshes k1 are staggered, the area can present a spring state. Therefore, the first mesh structure 2111 has the ability to stretch and shrink in the transverse and / or longitudinal directions, so that the buffer structure 21 can be deformed and the buffer structure 21 is convenient to bend.

[0078] In an exemplary embodiment, a portion of the multiple first meshes k1 may be hollow holes formed by penetrating the first mesh structure 2111 in the thickness direction, and a portion of the holes may be blind holes formed by not penetrating the first mesh structure 2111 in the thickness direction. The shapes of the holes include circular holes, rounded rectangular holes, etc., and no specific restrictions are made here.

[0079] The first filling structure 2112 can be used to fill at least a portion of the first meshes k1 among the plurality of meshes. The at least a portion of the first meshes k1 can be hollow holes to ensure the dustproof and waterproof performance of the buffer structure 21 .

[0080] In an optional embodiment, please refer to Figure 7, the first filling structure 2112 may include a plurality of first filling parts t1, and the plurality of first filling parts t1 correspond one-to-one to the plurality of first meshes k1, and each first filling part t1 is located in the corresponding first mesh k1. The plurality of first meshes k1 can all be hollow holes so that the force on the stretching part 211 is uniform. The material of the first filling part t1 may include silicone, and the first filling material can be printed in each first mesh k1 using an inkjet process to form the first filling structure 2112, so as to prevent foreign matter in the external environment from entering between the buffer structure 21 and the bending portion 222 of the display panel 22 from the first mesh structure 2111.

[0081] In an optional embodiment, referring to FIG. 8 , the first filling structure 2112 may further include a first filling layer t2 . The first filling layer t2 may cover one surface of the first mesh structure 2111 and be connected to the plurality of first filling portions t1 .

[0082] A hot pressing process can be used to extrude the first filling material layer coated on the surface of the first mesh structure 2111 into each first mesh k1 to form a first filling structure 2112, so that a layer of first filling material will remain on the surface of the first mesh structure 2111 to form a first filling layer t2.

[0083] The elastic modulus of the first filling structure 2112 is smaller than that of the support portion 212 , which can prevent the first filling layer t2 from affecting the elastic modulus of the stretching portion 211 . For example, the elastic modulus of the first filling layer t2 is smaller than or equal to 100 MPa.

[0084] In an alternative embodiment, referring to Figures 9 and 10, the buffer structure 21 includes at least one stretching portion 211 and at least two supporting portions 212, with one stretching portion 211 located between two adjacent supporting portions 212. The stretching portion 211 can be located between two adjacent supporting portions 212 to reduce the bending difficulty of the buffer structure 21 and facilitate connection of the first and second ends of the buffer structure 21 to the cover structure 23 and the connecting portion 223 of the display panel 22, respectively.

[0085] In an alternative embodiment, referring to Figures 3 and 5 , the buffer structure 21 includes a plurality of stretching portions 211 and a plurality of supporting portions 212, which are arranged alternately. This improves the deformability of the buffer structure 21 and prevents the stretching portions 211 from being too large, which could reduce the strength of the buffer structure 21.

[0086] In an alternative embodiment, the ratio of the area of ​​the stretching portion 211 to the area of ​​the buffer structure 21 is in the range of 10% to 60%. Within this range, the buffer structure 21 can be prevented from being difficult to bend and from having low strength. It should be noted that this area refers to the planar area of ​​the stretching portion 211 and the planar area of ​​the buffer structure 21 when the buffer structure 21 is not bent.

[0087] In an optional embodiment, referring to FIG3 , the display module 20 may further include a stress protection layer 24 . The stress protection layer 24 may be located on a side of the bent portion 222 facing away from the display portion 221 . The display portion 221 of the display panel 22 has a display surface p1 .

[0088] The bending portion 222 has relative concave and convex surfaces. When the stress protection layer 24 is located on the convex surface of the bending portion 222, the connecting line on the bending portion 222 can be located in the middle layer during the bending process of the bending portion 222 (the middle layer is subjected to less tensile or compressive force during the bending process), thereby reducing the risk of the connecting line on the bending portion 222 breaking.

[0089] The thickness of the stress protection layer 24 can be 0.03 mm to 0.12 mm. The material of the stress protection layer 24 can include a curing adhesive. For example, the stress protection layer 24 can be a UV-curable protective adhesive (English: Micro coating layer; abbreviated as MCL adhesive) or a polyester polyurethane adhesive.

[0090] The shortest distance L1 between the buffer structure 21 and the stress protection layer 24 in a direction parallel to the display surface p1 is less than or equal to 0.3 mm, and the shortest distance L2 between the buffer structure 21 and the stress protection layer 24 in a direction perpendicular to the display surface p1 is less than or equal to 0.2 mm.

[0091] Because the buffer structure 21 is located between the stress protection layer 24 and the middle frame 40, it can absorb energy from the middle frame 40 during a drop of the display device 30, thereby preventing the middle frame 40 from deforming and squeezing the stress protection layer 24. Because the buffer structure 21 can absorb energy conducted by the middle frame 40, the distance between the stress protection layer 24 and the middle frame 40 can be reduced, further reducing the width of the bottom frame of the display module 20 and increasing the display area.

[0092] In an optional embodiment, referring to Figures 3 and 11, the multiple support parts 212 may include a first support part 2121, a second support part 2122, a third support part 2123 and a fourth support part 2124, the multiple stretching parts 211 include a first stretching part 2113, a second stretching part 2114 and a third stretching part 2115, and the display part 221 has a display surface p1.

[0093] The first supporting portion 2121, the first stretching portion 2113, the second supporting portion 2122, the second stretching portion 2114, the third supporting portion 2123, the third stretching portion 2115 and the fourth supporting portion 2124 are connected in sequence, and the first supporting portion 2121 is in contact with the side of the cover structure 23 close to the display panel 22, and the fourth supporting portion 2124 is in contact with the side of the connecting portion 223 of the display panel 22 away from the display portion 221.

[0094] The second support portion 2122 and the third support portion 2123 are both plate-shaped, and the plate surface of the second support portion 2122 is perpendicular to the display surface p1 of the display portion 221 , while the plate surface of the third support portion 2123 is parallel to the display surface p1 of the display portion 221 .

[0095] In this way, the second support portion 2122 can protect the bent portion 222 of the display panel 22 in a direction parallel to the display surface p1 of the display unit 221, and the third support portion 2123 can protect the bent portion 222 of the display panel 22 in a direction perpendicular to the display surface p1 of the display unit 221. Furthermore, the first stretching portion 2113, the second stretching portion 2114, and the third stretching portion 2115 are all located in the bending region of the buffer structure 21, which can reduce the difficulty of bending the buffer structure 21 and thus reduce the difficulty of manufacturing the buffer structure 21.

[0096] Please refer to Figures 12 and 13. In order to facilitate the arrangement of the tensile portion 211 and the support portion 212 on the buffer structure 21, Figure 12 shows the buffer structure 21 when it is not bent. The buffer structure 21 may also include a transition portion 213. The length of the transition portion 213 in the first direction d1 is the same as the length of the buffer structure 21 in the first direction d1. The transition portion 213 is located between the tensile portion 211 and the support portion 212 and is connected to the tensile portion 211 and the support portion 212 respectively. The elastic modulus of the transition portion 213 is greater than the elastic modulus of the tensile portion 211, and the elastic modulus of the transition portion 213 is less than the elastic modulus of the support portion 212. The transition portion 213 is located between the tensile portion 211 and the support portion 212, and can form a force transition zone. In this way, when the buffer structure 21 is bent, the force between the tensile portion 211 and the support portion 212 can gradually change, avoiding stress concentration.

[0097] As shown in FIG13 , in an alternative embodiment, the transition portion 213 may include a second mesh structure 2131 and a second filling structure 2132. The second mesh structure 2131 includes a plurality of second meshes k2, with at least a portion of the second filling structure 2132 located within the plurality of second meshes k2. The density of the first meshes k1 in the first mesh structure 2111 is less than the density of the second meshes k2 in the second mesh structure 2131. The second mesh structure 2131 may be formed by staggering a plurality of hollowed-out second meshes k2 in the transverse and / or longitudinal directions. The size of the second meshes k2 may be determined based on the actual location. For example, the second meshes k2 may be circular in shape, with the second mesh structure 2131 formed by a plurality of hollowed-out circular holes arranged in parallel in the transverse direction. Alternatively, the second mesh structure 2131 may be formed by staggering a plurality of hollowed-out circular holes in the transverse and longitudinal directions. Alternatively, the shape of the second mesh k2 may be a rounded rectangle, and the second mesh structure 2131 is formed by a plurality of hollowed-out rounded rectangular holes staggered in the transverse and longitudinal directions.

[0098] The smaller the density of the meshes in the network structure (the first network structure 2111 or the second network structure 2131 ), the larger the elastic modulus. That is, the density of the meshes is negatively correlated with the elastic modulus.

[0099] In an exemplary embodiment, referring to FIG9 , the cover plate structure 23 may include a first adhesive layer 231, a first transparent cover plate 232, a second adhesive layer 233, and a second transparent cover plate 234 stacked in a direction away from the display panel 22. The first adhesive layer 231 and the second adhesive layer 233 may be made of an optically clear adhesive (OCA), and the first transparent cover plate 232 and the second transparent cover plate 234 may be made of at least one of polyethylene glycol terephthalate (PET) and ultra-thin glass (UTG).

[0100] The display module 20 may further include a support structure 25 located on the back side of the display panel 22. The support structure 25 may include a first buffer layer 251, a third adhesive layer 252, a support layer 253 (English: Bracket), a fourth adhesive layer 254, and a second buffer layer 255, which are stacked along the display portion 221 away from the display panel 22. The support layer 253 may be made of metal (e.g., stainless steel) or carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP). The third adhesive layer 252 and the fourth adhesive layer 254 may be made of pressure-sensitive adhesive (English: Pressure Sensitive Adhesive; abbreviated: PSA).

[0101] In summary, an embodiment of the present application provides a display module comprising: a buffer structure, a display panel, and a cover plate structure. The buffer structure is located on the side of the display panel's bent portion facing away from the display portion of the display panel, the first end of the buffer structure is connected to the side of the cover plate structure close to the display panel, and the second end of the buffer structure is connected to the side of the connection portion facing away from the display portion. Thus, by arranging the buffer structure on the outside of the bent portion of the display panel to protect the bent portion, damage to the bent portion caused by external impact forces can be avoided. The buffer structure can also protect the bent portion of the display panel from dust and water, thereby optimizing the impact resistance of the display module.

[0102] 14 , the display device 30 may include a middle frame 40 and a display module, wherein the display module is any of the display modules described above and is located inside the middle frame 40 . The display device 30 also includes a screen pressing bar 50 connected to one end of the middle frame 40 .

[0103] The display device 30 may include an integral adhesive strip 301 stacked in a direction close to the screen pressure strip 50, a frame adhesive 302, a support back plate 303 (English: bracket; abbreviated: BKT), a display panel 22 (English: panel; abbreviated: PNL), a first optically transparent adhesive 304 (OCA1), ultra-thin glass 305 (UTG), a second optically transparent adhesive 306 (OCA2), a colorless transparent polyimide 307 (CPI) and ink 308 (English: ink).

[0104] Referring to FIG. 15 , in an optional embodiment, the display device 30 may further include a cushioning pad 26 . The cushioning pad 26 is located between the cushioning structure 21 and the middle frame 40 and is connected to the middle frame 40 . The cushioning pad 26 may include a plastic material or foam. The cushioning pad can be used to absorb energy generated when the middle frame 40 deforms, thereby preventing the middle frame 40 from squeezing the cushioning structure 21 and further protecting the bent portion 222 of the display panel 22 .

[0105] In summary, an embodiment of the present application provides a display device, including a display module, wherein the display module includes: a buffer structure, a display panel, and a cover structure. The buffer structure is located on the side of the display panel's bent portion facing away from the display portion of the display panel, the first end of the buffer structure is connected to the side of the cover structure close to the display panel, and the second end of the buffer structure is connected to the side of the connection portion facing away from the display portion. In this way, by arranging the buffer structure on the outside of the bent portion of the display panel to protect the bent portion, damage to the bent portion caused by external impact force can be avoided. The buffer structure can also play a role in dustproofing and waterproofing the bent portion of the display panel, thereby optimizing the impact resistance of the display module.

[0106] The term "at least one of A and B" in this application is merely a description of the association relationship between associated objects, indicating that three relationships may exist. For example, at least one of A and B may represent three situations: A exists alone, A and B exist at the same time, and B exists alone.

[0107] It should be noted that in the accompanying drawings, the sizes of layers and regions may be exaggerated for clarity of illustration. It will also be understood that when an element or layer is referred to as being "on" another element or layer, it may be directly on the other element, or there may be an intermediate layer. In addition, it will be understood that when an element or layer is referred to as being "under" another element or layer, it may be directly under the other element, or there may be more than one intermediate layer or element. In addition, it will also be understood that when a layer or element is referred to as being "between" two layers or elements, it may be the only layer between the two layers or elements, or there may also be more than one intermediate layer or element. Similar reference numerals throughout the text indicate similar elements.

[0108] In this application, the terms "first", "second", "third" and "fourth" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be understood as indicating or implying relative importance. The term "plurality" refers to two or more, unless otherwise expressly limited.

[0109] The above description is merely an optional embodiment of the present application and is not intended to limit the present application. Any modifications, equivalent replacements, improvements, etc. made within the spirit and principles of the present application shall be included in the scope of protection of the present application.

Claims

1. A display module, characterized in that: The display module includes: a buffer structure and a stacked display panel and cover structure; The cover structure includes a first area and a second area located outside the first area, and the orthographic projection of the display panel on the cover structure is located in the first area; The display panel includes a display portion, and a bent portion and a connecting portion extending from an edge of the display portion and connected in sequence, wherein the bent portion and the connecting portion are located on a side of the display portion away from the cover structure; The buffer structure is located on the side of the bending portion facing away from the display portion, the first end of the buffer structure is connected to a side of the cover structure close to the display panel, the orthographic projection of the first end of the buffer structure on the cover structure is located in the second area, and the second end of the buffer structure is connected to a side of the connecting portion facing away from the display portion.

2. The display module according to claim 1, wherein: The buffer structure includes a stretching portion and a supporting portion connected to each other, wherein the length of the stretching portion in a first direction and the length of the supporting portion in the first direction are both the same as the length of the buffer structure in the first direction, and the first direction is a direction parallel to the first edge of the display portion; The elastic modulus of the stretching portion is smaller than the elastic modulus of the supporting portion.

3. The display module according to claim 2, wherein: The stretching portion includes a first mesh structure and a first filling structure. The first mesh structure includes a plurality of first meshes. At least a portion of the first filling structure is located in at least a portion of the first meshes.

4. The display module according to claim 3, wherein: The first filling structure includes a plurality of first filling parts, the plurality of first filling parts correspond one-to-one to the plurality of first meshes, and each first filling part is located in a corresponding first mesh.

5. The display module according to claim 4, wherein: The first filling structure further includes a first filling layer, the first filling layer covering one side of the first mesh structure and connected to the plurality of first filling parts; The elastic modulus of the first filling structure is smaller than the elastic modulus of the support portion.

6. The display module according to claim 2, wherein: The buffer structure includes at least one stretching portion and at least two supporting portions, and one stretching portion is located between two adjacent supporting portions.

7. The display module according to claim 2, wherein: The buffer structure includes a plurality of the stretching portions and a plurality of the supporting portions, and the plurality of the stretching portions and the plurality of the supporting portions are alternately arranged.

8. The display module according to claim 2, wherein: The ratio of the area of ​​the stretching portion to the area of ​​the buffer structure ranges from 10% to 60%.

9. The display module according to claim 2, wherein: The elastic modulus of the support portion is greater than or equal to 1 GPa, and the elastic modulus of the stretching portion is less than or equal to 100 MPa; The thickness of the buffer structure ranges from 20 microns to 80 microns.

10. The display module according to claim 1, wherein: The display module further includes a stress protection layer, the stress protection layer being located on a side of the bent portion facing away from the display portion, wherein the display portion has a display surface; The shortest distance between the buffer structure and the stress protection layer in a direction parallel to the display surface is less than or equal to 0.3 mm, and the shortest distance between the buffer structure and the stress protection layer in a direction perpendicular to the display surface is less than or equal to 0.2 mm.

11. The display module according to claim 7, wherein: The plurality of support portions include a first support portion, a second support portion, a third support portion, and a fourth support portion; the plurality of stretching portions include a first stretching portion, a second stretching portion, and a third stretching portion; and the display portion has a display surface; The first supporting portion, the first stretching portion, the second supporting portion, the second stretching portion, the third supporting portion, the third stretching portion, and the fourth supporting portion are connected in sequence, and the first supporting portion is in contact with a surface of the cover structure close to the display panel, and the fourth supporting portion is in contact with a surface of the connecting portion away from the display portion; The second supporting portion and the third supporting portion are both plate-shaped, and the plate surface of the second supporting portion is perpendicular to the display surface, while the plate surface of the third supporting portion is parallel to the display surface.

12. The display module according to claim 3, wherein: The buffer structure further includes a transition portion, the length of the transition portion in the first direction being the same as the length of the buffer structure in the first direction, the transition portion being located between the stretching portion and the supporting portion, and being connected to the stretching portion and the supporting portion respectively; The elastic modulus of the transition portion is greater than the elastic modulus of the stretch portion, and the elastic modulus of the transition portion is smaller than the elastic modulus of the support portion.

13. The display module according to claim 12, wherein: The transition portion includes a second mesh structure and a second filling structure, the second mesh structure includes a plurality of second meshes, and at least a portion of the second filling structure is located in the plurality of second meshes; The density of the first meshes in the first mesh structure is smaller than the density of the second meshes in the second mesh structure.

14. A display device, characterized in that: The display device includes: a middle frame and a display module, the display module is the display module according to any one of claims 1 to 13, and the display module is located inside the middle frame.

15. The display device according to claim 14, wherein: The display device further includes a buffer pad, which is located between the buffer structure and the middle frame, and is connected to the middle frame.

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