Flexible cover plate, flexible screen, foldable electronic device, and method for preparing flexible cover plate

Abstract

A flexible cover plate, a flexible screen, a foldable electronic device, and a method for preparing a flexible cover plate. The flexible cover plate comprises a substrate layer, a first coating and an ink portion, wherein the ink portion is located on a first surface of the substrate layer, and the first coating covers the first surface of the substrate layer and the ink portion, and fills the edge of the ink portion adjacent to the substrate layer. In this way, the first coating on the surface of the substrate layer can effectively fill a thickness space of the ink portion, and has a better ink step leveling capability, thereby eliminating the possibility of bubble formation in the ink portion, and improving the display effect and visual appearance. The interfacial adhesion between the first coating and the substrate layer is increased, thereby reducing the risk of delamination during bending. In addition, the flexible cover plate enables further reduced process costs and reduced weight, and can be widely applied to different foldable electronic devices.

Description

A flexible cover plate, a flexible screen, a foldable electronic device, and a method for manufacturing the flexible cover plate.

[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202510126006.1, filed with the State Intellectual Property Office of China on January 26, 2025, entitled "A Flexible Cover Plate, Flexible Screen, Foldable Electronic Device and Method for Preparing a Flexible Cover Plate", the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0002] This application relates to the field of electronic display technology, and in particular to a flexible cover plate, a flexible screen, a foldable electronic device, and a method for preparing a flexible cover plate. Background Technology

[0003] The flexible screen of foldable electronic devices is flexible and bendable, and when flattened, it provides a larger display size for a better user experience. The flexible screen mainly consists of a flexible display panel and a flexible cover plate. The flexible cover plate overlaps the display panel, protecting it without affecting the display effect or touch operation.

[0004] In related technologies, a typical flexible cover plate structure has a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) layer bonded to a substrate via an optically clear adhesive (OCA) layer, with ink edges and / or ink rings printed on the PET side. During production and / or use, bubbles or separation can easily occur between the OCA and PET, affecting the display effect and visual appeal. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This application provides a flexible cover plate, a flexible screen, a foldable electronic device, and a method for manufacturing a flexible cover plate. By optimizing the layered structure of the flexible cover plate, the problems of air bubbles or separation can be solved, effectively improving long-term durability.

[0006] A first aspect of this application provides a flexible cover plate, which includes a substrate layer, a first coating, and an ink portion. The substrate layer includes a first surface, and the ink portion is located on the first surface of the substrate layer. The first coating covers the first surface of the substrate layer and the ink portion, and fills the edges adjacent to the substrate layer where the ink portion is located. This embodiment, by forming the ink portion on the substrate layer side and effectively filling the thickness space of the ink portion with the first coating, provides superior ink step absorption capacity, reduces the possibility of air bubbles forming in the ink portion, and thus improves the display effect and visual experience.

[0007] Furthermore, in practical applications, the first coating is made of a fluid-curable material. Specifically, the first coating is formed by applying a fluid-curable material to the first surface of the substrate layer and then curing it. Here, "fluid-curable material" refers to a material that exists in both fluid and solid states, exhibits good fluidity during the protective layer fabrication process, and can be cured into a protective layer. This allows for effective control of air bubbles during the ink layer lamination process, further mitigating the risk of separation or blistering between the substrate layer and the first coating during bending operations. Simultaneously, the fluid-curable material used to form the first coating fully fills the microstructure of the substrate layer surface, increasing the interfacial adhesion between the first coating and the substrate layer, further reducing the risk of delamination during bending. Overall, this provides a strong technical guarantee for improving the long-term durability of flexible screens.

[0008] Furthermore, compared to related technologies that employ high-temperature degassing, this embodiment, based on the fluidity of the curable material, effectively reduces bubble defects in the ink portion of the flexible cover plate, eliminating the need for additional high-temperature degassing processes and further reducing process costs. Compared to related technologies that use OCA and PET film layers to form a protective layer, this embodiment achieves a protective layer based on a single first coating, allowing for a thinner touch panel (TP) interface and reduced weight. The thinner TP interface also reduces bending stress and rebound force during bending of the flexible cover plate. Additionally, this embodiment, based on a curable material for the first coating, features a simpler process and lower manufacturing costs.

[0009] For example, the ink portion includes an ink shielding edge located at the peripheral edge of the first surface and / or an ink ring located within the first surface.

[0010] Based on the first aspect, this application also provides a first implementation of the first aspect: the ink portion includes an ink masking edge and / or an ink ring. In practical applications, the ink portion may include an ink masking edge and an ink ring, with the ink ring and ink masking edge covering the same side surface of the substrate layer. The ink ring can mask the background color of the camera structural component, improving its appearance. Simultaneously, based on the good flowability of the fluidized solidifiable material, the thickness space of the ink ring can be effectively filled during the flow molding process, reducing the possibility of air bubbles forming at the ink ring.

[0011] In practical applications, the substrate layer can be made of materials with a modulus value of 7 GPa to 500 GPa. For example, the substrate layer can be made of ultra-thin glass (UTG); other examples include transparent polyimide (CPI), transparent glass fiber, transparent ceramic, or sapphire. Furthermore, based on the high modulus characteristics of UTG, coating the substrate layer with an ink ring can avoid deformation of the ink ring caused by deformation of the substrate layer supporting the ink ring, thus improving the problem of image distortion caused by ink ring deformation.

[0012] Based on the first aspect, or the first embodiment of the first aspect, this application also provides a second embodiment of the first aspect: the substrate layer further includes a second surface and an outer peripheral edge, the second surface being disposed opposite to the first surface, and the outer peripheral edge being located between the first surface and the second surface; the flexible cover plate further includes a second coating, the second coating being stacked on the second surface of the substrate layer, and the second coating being made of a fluid curable material; the second coating covers the outer peripheral edge of the substrate layer and is bonded to the first coating; or, the first coating covers the outer peripheral edge of the substrate layer and is bonded to the second coating; or, the first coating and the second coating are bonded at the outer peripheral edge of the substrate layer to jointly cover the outer peripheral edge. Based on the fluidity of the fluid curable material, this application embodiment utilizes the fluid material to completely fill the outer periphery of the substrate layer, and both the second coating and the first coating have superior interfacial adhesion to the substrate layer, which can further reduce the risk of bending and delamination of the flexible cover plate and meet the long-term durability requirements of the flexible screen.

[0013] In practical applications, a second coating can be used to cover the outer periphery of the substrate layer, avoiding the difference in bonding thickness between the protective layers on both sides of the substrate layer. In other words, based on the fluidity of the curable material, it can fully fill the outer periphery of the substrate layer, thus avoiding the defect of traditional solid OCA where the outer layer cannot be completely filled, resulting in a difference in bonding thickness between the protective layers on both sides of the substrate layer. In other practical applications, the outer periphery of the substrate layer can also be covered by a first coating, or by a combination of a first coating and a second layer.

[0014] Based on the first aspect, or the first embodiment of the first aspect, or the second embodiment of the first aspect, this application also provides a third embodiment of the first aspect: the flexible cover further includes a hardening layer, which is stacked on the side of the first coating layer away from the substrate layer, and the hardness of the hardening layer is greater than the hardness of the first coating layer; or, the hardening layer is stacked on the side of the substrate layer away from the first coating layer, and the hardness of the hardening layer is greater than the hardness of the substrate layer. This further enhances the hardness of the flexible cover, provides better scratch protection, and improves the user's tactile feedback.

[0015] In practical applications, the hardened layer can be made of a hydrophobic material. For example, it can be made of a hydrophobic material with a water droplet angle of 100° to 120°, such as a fluorinated resin, which can further improve the waterproof or anti-fouling performance of the flexible screen and reduce the adhesion of fingerprints and stains.

[0016] Based on the first aspect, or the first embodiment of the first aspect, or the second embodiment of the first aspect, or the third embodiment of the first aspect, this application also provides a fourth embodiment of the first aspect: the curable material is an acrylic resin. Thus, after curing, a protective layer with excellent physical properties and chemical stability can be formed. Alternatively, the curable material is silicone. Due to the good fluidity of silicone, superior ink step absorption capacity can be obtained during the formation of the first coating, while simultaneously filling the microstructure of the substrate layer surface. This achieves sufficient bonding between the two, effectively increasing the interfacial adhesion between the first coating and the substrate layer.

[0017] Based on the first aspect, or the first implementation of the first aspect, or the second implementation of the first aspect, or the third implementation of the first aspect, this application also provides a fifth implementation of the first aspect: the substrate layer has a uniform thickness structure, or the substrate layer includes a first region and a second region located on both sides of the first region, and the thickness of the first region is thinner than the thickness of the second region. In specific implementations, by using a substrate layer with a non-uniform thickness structure, the flexible screen can maintain its appearance flatness by using a relatively thin first region and avoiding hinge or pivot structures.

[0018] A second aspect of this application provides a flexible screen, comprising a flexible display panel and a flexible cover plate stacked together, wherein the flexible cover plate is the flexible cover plate described above. Based on the structural optimization of the flexible cover plate, the display effect and visual experience can be improved, while reducing the risk of delamination due to bending. Overall, the manufacturing cost of the flexible screen can be reduced, the touchscreen interface can be thinned, and the weight can be reduced, providing technical assurance for improving the user experience.

[0019] In practical applications, the flexible cover plate and the flexible display panel are bonded together by an adhesive layer.

[0020] Based on the second aspect, this application also provides a first implementation of the second aspect: the first adhesive layer is an optically transparent adhesive or a pressure-sensitive adhesive. In practical applications, the second coating is implemented using acrylic resin, which, based on the bonding of homologous materials, has good interfacial adhesion and can further reduce the risk of separation due to bending.

[0021] A third aspect of this application provides a foldable electronic device, which includes a flexible screen, a first body, a hinge, and a second body. The flexible screen covers the surfaces of the first body and the second body. The first body is connected to the second body via the hinge. The first body and the second body can rotate relative to each other to cause the flexible screen to bend.

[0022] For example, the foldable electronic device can be a foldable phone or a foldable tablet.

[0023] Alternatively, the inward-folding screen electronic device may be an inward-folding screen electronic device or an outward-folding screen electronic device.

[0024] Based on the third aspect, this application also provides a first implementation of the third aspect: the substrate layer includes a first region and a second region located on both sides of the first region, and the thickness of the first region is thinner than the thickness of the second region; the first region is correspondingly disposed with respect to the hinge, so that the flexible screen avoids the hinge at the first region. In this way, the flexible screen can maintain its appearance flatness.

[0025] A fourth aspect of this application provides a method for preparing a flexible cover plate, the method comprising the following steps:

[0026] A substrate layer is obtained, the substrate layer including a first surface, and an ink portion is coated on the first surface;

[0027] A first coating is formed, which covers the first surface and the ink portion and fills the edge where the ink portion is adjacent to the substrate layer.

[0028] Based on the fourth aspect, the present application also provides a first implementation of the fourth aspect: the first coating is made by: applying a fluid curable material to a first surface and an ink portion; curing the fluid curable material covering the first surface and the ink portion to form the first coating.

[0029] Based on the fourth aspect, or the first implementation of the fourth aspect, this application also provides a second implementation of the fourth aspect: the substrate layer further includes a second surface and an outer peripheral edge, the second surface is disposed opposite to the first surface, and the outer peripheral edge is located between the first surface and the second surface;

[0030] The preparation method further includes: preparing a second coating, wherein the second coating is stacked on the second surface.

[0031] For example, the ink portion includes an ink shielding edge located at the peripheral edge of the first surface and / or an ink ring located within the first surface.

[0032] Based on the fourth aspect, or the first embodiment of the fourth aspect, or the second embodiment of the fourth aspect, this application also provides a third embodiment of the fourth aspect: preparing a second coating, comprising: covering a second surface with a fluid curable material; curing the fluid curable material covering the second surface to form a second coating.

[0033] Based on the third implementation of the fourth aspect, this application also provides a fourth implementation of the fourth aspect: covering the second surface with a fluid curable material, including:

[0034] The fluidized, curable material is applied to the second surface and outer perimeter, and then bonded to the first coating.

[0035] or,

[0036] Covering the first surface and the ink portion with a fluid curable material includes:

[0037] A fluid curable material is applied to the first surface, the ink portion, and the outer peripheral edge to bond with the second coating.

[0038] or,

[0039] Covering the first surface and the ink portion with a fluid curable material includes:

[0040] The first surface, the ink portion, and part of the outer peripheral edge are covered with a fluid curable material;

[0041] Covering the second surface with a fluid, curable material includes:

[0042] The fluid curable material is applied to the second surface and part of the outer perimeter and bonded to the first coating.

[0043] Based on the second implementation of the fourth aspect, this application also provides a fourth implementation of the fourth aspect: covering a first surface with a fluid curable material, including:

[0044] Covering a first surface with a fluid curable material includes applying the fluid curable material to the surface of a substrate layer using slot coating, blade coating, or spray coating processes; and / or

[0045] Applying a fluid curable material to a second surface includes applying the fluid curable material to the surface of a substrate layer using slot coating, scraping, or spraying processes. Attached Figure Description

[0046] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the unfolded state of a foldable electronic device provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0047] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the flexible screen shown in Figure 1;

[0048] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a typical flexible cover plate in related technologies;

[0049] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a flexible cover plate provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0050] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the processing steps of the flexible cover plate shown in Figure 4;

[0051] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of one application state of the flexible cover plate shown in Figure 4;

[0052] Figure 7 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of another flexible cover plate provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0053] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of the processing steps of the flexible cover plate shown in Figure 7;

[0054] Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of one application state of the flexible cover plate shown in Figure 7;

[0055] Figure 10 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of another flexible cover plate provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0056] Figure 11 is a schematic diagram of the processing steps of the flexible cover plate shown in Figure 10;

[0057] Figure 12 is a schematic diagram of one application state of the flexible cover plate shown in Figure 10;

[0058] Figure 13 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of another flexible cover plate provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0059] Figure 14 is a schematic diagram of the processing steps of the flexible cover plate shown in Figure 13;

[0060] Figure 15 is a schematic diagram of one application state of the flexible cover plate shown in Figure 13;

[0061] Figure 16 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of another flexible cover plate provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0062] Figure 17 is a schematic diagram of the processing steps of the flexible cover plate shown in Figure 16;

[0063] Figure 18 is a schematic diagram of one application state of the flexible cover plate shown in Figure 16;

[0064] Figure 19 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of another flexible cover plate provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0065] Figure 20 is a schematic diagram of one application state of the flexible cover plate shown in Figure 19;

[0066] Figure 21 is a schematic diagram of a foldable electronic device with an inward-folding screen provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0067] Figure 22 is a schematic diagram of a foldable electronic device with an outward-folding screen provided in an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0068] This application provides a layered architecture implementation scheme for a flexible cover plate, which can avoid the presence of air bubbles in the ink, and provides a good technical guarantee for the long-term durability of the flexible screen while achieving good display effect and visual experience.

[0069] Please refer to Figure 1, which is a schematic diagram of the unfolded state of a foldable electronic device provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0070] As shown in Figure 1, the foldable electronic device 100 includes a flexible screen 10, a first body 20, a hinge 30, and a second body 40. The first body 20 is connected to the second body 40 via the hinge 30. The hinge 30 can be a mechanism composed of several components, capable of corresponding mechanical movements according to user operation, allowing the first body 20 and the second body 40 to rotate relative to each other. The first body 20 and the second body 40 are used to mount and support the flexible screen 10, which has flexible and bendable properties, enabling the foldable electronic device 100 to be folded or unfolded relative to each other. In the unfolded state shown in Figure 1, the first body 20 and the second body 40 are located on both sides of the hinge 30, and the flexible screen 10 flatly covers the same side surface of the first body 20 and the second body 40, that is, the flexible screen 10 is unfolded approximately 180°. Of course, in practical applications, the first body 20 and the second body 40 can also rotate relative to each other to other unfolded states not shown in Figure 1, such as, but not limited to, unfolding at 120° or 150°.

[0071] In a specific implementation, the foldable electronic device 100 can be a foldable mobile phone or a foldable tablet computer, etc., and this application example does not limit it.

[0072] Please refer to Figure 2, which is a schematic diagram of the structure of the flexible screen 10 shown in Figure 1. As shown in Figure 2, the flexible screen 10 is mainly composed of a flexible display panel 2 and a flexible cover plate 1. The flexible cover plate 1 covers the flexible display panel 2 and provides protection for the flexible display panel 2.

[0073] A typical flexible cover plate includes a PET protective layer 02, a first OCA layer 03, and a UTG substrate layer 01 stacked sequentially, as shown in Figure 3, which is a schematic diagram of the flexible cover plate's structure. The protective layer 02 is bonded to the substrate layer 01 via the first OCA layer 03 to provide protection for the substrate layer. Ink edge masking to prevent light leakage around the edges of the flexible screen is printed on the PET protective layer 02 side. This ink edge masking can form along the outer perimeter of the flexible cover plate to improve the visual experience. However, the OCA layer has poor ink absorption capacity, resulting in air bubbles in the PET protective layer and OCA layer at the ink edge masking A. During production and / or bending, this can easily lead to separation or bubbling between the two layers, affecting the display effect and appearance.

[0074] Additionally, for the flexible cover plate structure shown in Figure 3, a second OCA layer 04 can be stacked on the side of the substrate layer 01 away from the PET protective layer 02. In practical applications, the second OCA layer 04 can be used to assemble and bond the second coating or flexible display panel (not shown in the figure). When the second OCA layer 04 is bonded to the PET protective layer 02 side, the solid OCA cannot completely fill the outer periphery of the substrate layer 01, resulting in a thickness difference problem, which can easily lead to bubbles or separation at the outer periphery B of the substrate layer 01.

[0075] Based on this, this application provides a flexible cover plate, which includes a substrate layer, a first coating, and an ink portion. The substrate layer includes a first surface, and the ink portion is located on the first surface of the substrate layer. The first coating is stacked on the first surface of the substrate layer and the ink portion, covering the substrate layer to provide protection. The first coating is formed by curing a fluid curable material applied to the surface of the substrate layer and fills the edge adjacent to the ink portion and the substrate layer. The flexible cover plate provided in this embodiment forms the ink portion on the substrate layer side and forms the first coating on the surface of the substrate layer based on the fluidity of the fluid curable material. This effectively fills the thickness space of the ink portion during the flow forming process, has better ink step absorption capacity, reduces the possibility of air bubbles forming in the ink portion, and thus improves the display effect and visual experience.

[0076] Furthermore, based on the effective control of air bubbles during the ink lamination process, phenomena that easily lead to separation or bubbling between the substrate layer and the first coating can be further avoided during bending operations. Simultaneously, the fluid, curable material used to form the first coating can fully fill the microstructure of the substrate layer surface, increasing the interfacial adhesion between the first coating and the substrate layer, further reducing the risk of delamination during bending. Overall, this provides a solid technical guarantee for improving the long-term durability of flexible screens.

[0077] Furthermore, compared to related technologies that employ high-temperature degassing, this embodiment, based on the fluidity of the curable material, effectively reduces bubble defects in the ink portion of the flexible cover plate, eliminating the need for additional high-temperature degassing processes and further reducing process costs. Compared to related technologies that use OCA and PET film layers to form a protective layer, this embodiment achieves protection for the substrate layer with just the first coating, allowing for thinning of the TP interface and reducing weight. Based on the thinning of the TP interface, bending stress and bending rebound force generated during the bending process of the flexible cover plate can also be reduced. Simultaneously, this embodiment, based on a curable material to form the first coating, features a simpler process and lower manufacturing cost.

[0078] To better understand the technical solution and effects of this application, without loss of generality, the specific embodiments will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Please refer to Figures 4 and 5 together, wherein Figure 4 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a flexible cover plate provided in an embodiment of this application, and Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the processing steps of the flexible cover plate shown in Figure 4.

[0079] As shown in Figure 4, the flexible cover plate 1 includes a substrate layer 11 and a first coating layer 12 stacked together. The substrate layer 11 includes a first surface 111, a second surface 112, and an outer peripheral edge 113. The second surface 112 is disposed opposite to the first surface 111, and the outer peripheral edge 113 is located between the first surface 111 and the second surface 112. The ink portion includes an ink masking edge 131. The ink masking edge 131 of the flexible cover plate 1 covers the first surface 111 of the substrate layer 11, that is, it is located on the side of the substrate layer 11 adjacent to the first coating layer 12. Specifically, the ink masking edge 131 is located at the peripheral edge of the first surface 111. When the flexible cover plate 1 is assembled in a flexible screen, the ink masking edge 131 covers the four edges of the flexible screen to prevent light leakage from the flexible screen. The first coating layer 12 can be formed by applying a fluid curable material to the first surface 111 of the substrate layer 11 and fills the edge of the ink portion adjacent to the substrate layer. In this way, the material of the first coating 12 can fill the micro-pore structure on the surface of the substrate layer 11, and the outer surface of the formed first coating 12 is flush.

[0080] The substrate layer 11 can be made of a high-modulus material with a modulus value of 7 GPa to 500 GPa, for example, a material with a modulus value of 7 GPa, 60 GPa, or 450 GPa. Preferably, the substrate layer 11 can be made of UTG, and the modulus of UTG can be 40 GPa to 300 GPa, for example, but not limited to, a modulus value of 60 GPa, 74 GPa, or 90 GPa.

[0081] In other possible implementations, the substrate layer 11 can also be made of transparent glass fiber with a modulus of 60 GPa to 70 GPa, or sapphire with a modulus of about 443 GPa, or transparent ceramic with a modulus of about 500 GPa. This application does not limit the scope of the embodiments.

[0082] In a specific implementation, the substrate layer 11 can be a structure of uniform thickness. The UTG thickness can be 10μm to 200μm. For example, the thickness of the substrate layer 11 can be 10μm, 50μm, 100μm or 200μm, etc., which can be determined according to the overall design requirements of the product. This application embodiment does not limit it.

[0083] In other specific implementations, the substrate layer 11 can also be a non-uniform thickness structure. To adapt to the structure at the hinge location, the thickness of the substrate layer 11 near the hinge is thinner than that away from the hinge, to accommodate the structural dimensions at the hinge so that the flexible screen 10 maintains a flat appearance. In other words, the substrate layer 11 has a first region S1 near its bend line (i.e., the bend region of the hinge 30 shown in Figures 1 and 2) and a second region S2 on both sides of the first region S1. The thickness of the first region S1 can be reduced, with the substrate layer 11 near the hinge (first region S1) being relatively thin, and the substrate layer 11 in other regions on both sides of the hinge (second region S2) being relatively thick, to avoid the hinge or pivot structure. For example, the thickness of the bend region S of the substrate layer 11 is 30 μm, and the thickness of the other regions on both sides of the substrate layer 11 away from its bend line is 70 μm; or, the thickness of the bend region S of the substrate layer 11 is 30 μm. μ m, the thickness of the substrate layer 11 in other areas away from its bend line is 150 μm; or the thickness of the bend area S of the substrate layer 11 is 50 μm, and the thickness of the substrate layer 11 in other areas away from its bend line is 450 μm. It is understood that the specific thickness can be determined according to the overall product design requirements, and the embodiments in this application are not limited thereto.

[0084] The first coating 12 is formed using a fluid curable material, i.e., a fluid coating material, such as, but not limited to, a coating material with high elasticity, high toughness, and high creep recovery. Preferably, the first coating 12 can be made of acrylic resin, which, after curing, forms a protective layer with excellent physical properties and chemical stability.

[0085] Based on the good fluidity of acrylic resin, on the one hand, it can effectively fill the thickness space of the ink masking edge 131 during the flow molding process (as shown by mark ① in Figure 4), and has better ink step absorption capacity, reducing the possibility of air bubbles being generated at the ink masking edge; on the other hand, the fluid acrylic resin can also fully fill the microstructure of the substrate layer 11 surface, and the bonding force between the first coating layer 12 and the substrate layer 11 is high. After a 180° peel strength test, the peel strength is as high as 10N / cm to 15N / cm. Compared with the PET film layer of related technologies that is bonded by OCA and UTG, the OCA and UTG bonding force of this solution is 4N / cm to 7N / cm. The embodiment of this application can significantly increase the interfacial bonding force between the first coating layer 12 and the substrate layer 11, effectively reducing the risk of bending and delamination.

[0086] In other specific implementations, the fluid curable material used to form the first coating 12 can also be made of silicone. Similarly, based on the good fluidity of silicone, better ink step absorption capacity can be obtained during the formation of the first coating 12, while increasing the interfacial adhesion between the first coating 12 and the substrate layer 11.

[0087] The flexible cover plate described in Figure 4 will be briefly explained below with reference to the processing procedure diagram shown in Figure 5.

[0088] First, a substrate layer 11 is prepared and coated with ink for edge masking 131.

[0089] A substrate layer 11 is made of UTG with a thickness of 20μm to 100μm and is cleaned. At the same time, as shown in Figure 5(a), black ink is coated on the first surface 111 of the substrate layer 11 to form an ink masking edge 131.

[0090] In specific implementations, the optical density (OD) value of the ink is preferably ≥1.0. The ink masking edge 131 can be fabricated using different processes. For example, but not limited to, inkjet printing, screen printing, or transfer printing can be used to coat the ink onto the substrate layer 11. It is understood that the above ink coating process can be implemented using existing technology. Further details are omitted here.

[0091] Then, as shown in Figure 5(b), an acrylic resin layer is coated on the first surface 111 of the substrate layer 11 and the ink masking edge 131.

[0092] In practice, the fluid curable material used to form the first coating 12 can be achieved by processes such as slot coating, scraping, or spraying.

[0093] Next, the acrylic resin is cured to form a first coating 12 with a thickness of 2μm to 200μm.

[0094] In specific implementations, the acrylic resin can be cured using a thermosetting process, where heating causes the functional groups in the acrylic resin to undergo a cross-linking reaction, curing it to form a protective layer structure. Alternatively, a photocuring process can be used, where radiation from a light source triggers a cross-linking reaction of photosensitive groups (such as acrylate groups) in the resin, rapidly curing it to form a protective layer structure. Of course, for the photocuring process, pre-curing by heating can be performed before light source radiation; the specific choice can be made according to needs, and this application does not limit this.

[0095] Please also refer to Figure 6, which is a schematic diagram of one application state of the flexible cover plate shown in Figure 4. Based on the flexible cover plate 1 described in Figure 4, a first adhesive layer 14 can be stacked on the side of the first coating 12 away from the substrate layer 11 for bonding and fixing with other functional protective layers (not shown in the figure), such as, but not limited to, a PET cushioning layer. A second adhesive layer 15 is stacked on the side of the substrate layer 11 away from the first coating 12 for bonding and fixing with the flexible display panel to form a flexible screen (not shown in the figure).

[0096] In a specific implementation, the first adhesive layer 14 and the second adhesive layer 15 can be made of OCA. Of course, in other possible implementations, the first adhesive layer 14 and the second adhesive layer 15 can also be made of pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA), as long as the basic functional requirements of the flexible screen can be met. This application does not limit the implementation.

[0097] For foldable electronic devices equipped with cameras, such as mobile phones, in a specific implementation, the ink ring of the flexible cover plate 1 can also be formed on the substrate layer side. Please refer to Figures 7, 8, and 9 together, where Figure 7 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of another flexible cover plate provided in an embodiment of this application, Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of the processing steps of the flexible cover plate shown in Figure 7, and Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of an application state of the flexible cover plate shown in Figure 7. In order to clearly show the differences or connections between this embodiment and the foregoing embodiments, the same functional components or structures are indicated by the same reference numerals in the figures.

[0098] Compared to the flexible cover plate 1 described in Figure 4, the difference in this embodiment is that the ink portion includes an ink ring 132. The flexible cover plate 1 has an ink ring 132 coated on its substrate layer 11, and this ink ring 132 is formed on the first surface 111 of the substrate layer 11. Specifically, the ink ring 132 may be located within the first surface 111, while the ink obscuring edge 131 is located around the periphery of the first surface 111. In this embodiment, the flexible cover plate 1 is used in an electronic device with a camera 50, and the ink ring 132 is positioned corresponding to the camera 50. As shown in Figure 7, based on the corresponding arrangement of the ink ring 132 and the camera 50, when a user views the flexible cover plate 1 from the outside, the ink ring 132 surrounds the camera 50, thereby obscuring the background color of the camera 50 structure and improving the aesthetic appeal.

[0099] The specific implementation of other functional components can adopt the same implementation method as the embodiment described in Figure 4 above. It will not be repeated here.

[0100] Based on the good flowability of the curable fluid, during the flow molding process, the fluid material can effectively fill the thickness space adjacent to the ink masking edge 131 and the ink ring 132 (as shown by marks ① and ② in Figure 7), exhibiting superior ink step absorption capacity and effectively reducing the possibility of air bubbles forming at the ink masking edge and ink ring. In practical applications, when the substrate layer 11 made of UTG is subjected to stress, the high modulus characteristics of UTG can prevent its own deformation from causing deformation of the ink ring 132. In other words, this solution, by coating the substrate layer 11 made of UTG with the ink ring 132, can effectively mitigate the impact of deformation of the substrate layer 11 bearing the ink ring and solve the problem of image distortion caused by the deformation of the ink ring 132.

[0101] Using a related implementation scheme of ink edge printing on the PET side and bonding it with OCA and UTG as a comparative example, simulation tests were conducted under the same technical conditions. The test data of PV / Power, which characterizes the imaging effect, are shown in Table 1 below. In Table 1, Power is the surface shape parameter, which is the difference between the radius of curvature of the optical surface and the radius of curvature of the reference surface, and is used to describe the characteristic parameter of the surface shape curve; PV is the peak to valley value, and λ is the wavelength of light.

[0102] Table 1:

[0103] As can be seen from the test results shown in Table 1, compared with the comparative example, the Power value and PV value of the embodiments of this application are relatively low, and good optical performance can be obtained.

[0104] In other specific implementations, the substrate layer 11 made of high-modulus materials such as CPI, transparent glass fiber, sapphire or transparent ceramic can also improve the effect of deformation of the substrate layer 11 that carries the ink ring, and solve the problem of camera distortion caused by the deformation of the ink ring 132.

[0105] The flexible cover plate described in Figure 7 will be briefly explained below with reference to the processing procedure diagram shown in Figure 8.

[0106] First, a substrate layer 11 is prepared and coated with ink masking 131 and ink ring 132.

[0107] A substrate layer 11 is made of UTG with a thickness of 20μm to 100μm and is cleaned. As shown in Figure 8(a), black ink is coated on the first surface 111 of the substrate layer 11 to form an ink masking edge 131 and an ink ring 132.

[0108] Then, as shown in Figure 8(b), an acrylic resin layer is coated on the first surface 111, ink masking edge 131 and ink ring 132 of the substrate layer 11.

[0109] Next, the acrylic resin is cured to form a first coating 12 with a thickness of 2μm to 200μm.

[0110] In specific process implementation, the same process method as the aforementioned embodiments can be adopted as needed. This application does not limit the scope of the embodiments.

[0111] As shown in Figure 8, based on the flexible cover plate 1 described in Figure 7, a first adhesive layer 14 can be stacked on the side of the first coating layer 12 away from the substrate layer 11, and a second adhesive layer 15 can be stacked on the side of the substrate layer 11 away from the first coating layer 12. During assembly, the first adhesive layer 14 can be bonded and fixed to other functional protective layers (not shown in the figure), and the second adhesive layer 15 can be bonded and fixed to the flexible display panel to form a flexible screen (not shown in the figure).

[0112] To further enhance the protective function of the flexible cover, a hard coating (HC) layer can be formed on the side of the first coating away from the substrate layer. Please refer to Figures 10, 11, and 12 together. Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view of another flexible cover provided in this embodiment; Figure 11 is a schematic diagram of the processing steps of the flexible cover shown in Figure 10; and Figure 12 is a schematic diagram of an application state of the flexible cover shown in Figure 10. To clearly illustrate the differences or connections between this embodiment and the aforementioned embodiments, components or structures with the same function are indicated by the same reference numerals in the figures.

[0113] Compared to the flexible cover plate 1 described in Figure 7, the difference in this embodiment is that a hardening layer 16 is stacked on the side of the first coating 12. Thus, using the hardening layer 16 as the surface layer of the flexible cover plate 1 further enhances the hardness of the flexible cover plate, provides better scratch protection, and improves the user's tactile feedback. Here, the "surface layer" of the flexible cover plate 1 refers to the surface structure on the side of the flexible cover plate 1 away from the flexible display panel 2 after the flexible cover plate 1 is bonded to the flexible display panel 2.

[0114] In specific implementations, the hardened layer 16 can be made of a hydrophobic material. Depending on the overall product design requirements, a hydrophobic material with a water droplet angle coverage of 90° to 120° can be selected. Preferably, the hardened layer 16 is made of a hydrophobic material such as a fluorinated resin with a water droplet angle coverage of 100° to 120°. This configuration further improves the waterproof or anti-fouling performance of the flexible screen, reducing the adhesion of fingerprints and stains. The thickness of the hardened layer 16 can be 2μm to 50μm, for example, 2μm, 10μm, or 50μm, and can be determined according to the overall product design requirements; this embodiment does not limit the specific thickness.

[0115] The specific implementation of other functional components can adopt the same implementation method as the embodiment described in Figure 7 above. It will not be repeated here.

[0116] In addition, for the flexible cover plate described in Figure 4, a hardening layer 16 (not shown in the figure) can also be stacked on the side of the first coating 12 away from the substrate layer as needed to improve the waterproof or anti-fouling performance of the flexible screen and reduce the adhesion of fingerprints and stains.

[0117] The flexible cover plate described in Figure 10 will be briefly explained below with reference to the processing procedure diagram shown in Figure 11.

[0118] First, as shown in Figure 11(a), a substrate layer 11 is prepared, and an ink masking edge 131 and an ink ring 132 are coated on the first surface 111.

[0119] Then, as shown in Figure 11(b), an acrylic resin layer is coated on the first surface 111, ink masking edge 131 and ink ring 132 of the substrate layer 11.

[0120] Next, the acrylic resin is cured to form the first coating 12.

[0121] Then, as shown in Figure 11(c), a hardening layer 16 is stacked on the side of the first coating 12 away from the substrate layer 11, for example, but not limited to, a fluorinated resin material, to form a first coating 12 with a thickness of 2μm to 50μm.

[0122] In specific process implementation, the same process method as the aforementioned embodiments can be adopted as needed. This application does not limit the scope of the embodiments.

[0123] As shown in Figure 12, based on the flexible cover plate 1 described in Figure 10, a first adhesive layer 14 can be stacked on the side of the hardened layer 16 away from the first coating layer 12, and a second adhesive layer 15 can be stacked on the side of the substrate layer 11 away from the first coating layer 12. During assembly, the first adhesive layer 14 can be bonded and fixed to other functional protective layers (not shown in the figure), and the second adhesive layer 15 can be bonded and fixed to the flexible display panel to form a flexible screen (not shown in the figure).

[0124] In all the foregoing embodiments, a first coating is formed on the first surface 111 side of the substrate layer 11 using a fluid curable material. In other specific implementations, a second coating can also be formed on the second surface 112 side of the substrate layer 11, and this second coating can also be formed using a fluid curable material. Please refer to Figures 13, 14, and 15 together, where Figure 13 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of another flexible cover plate provided in this application embodiment, Figure 14 is a schematic diagram of the processing steps of the flexible cover plate shown in Figure 13, and Figure 15 is a schematic diagram of an application state of the flexible cover plate shown in Figure 13. In order to clearly show the differences or connections between this embodiment and the foregoing embodiments, the same functional components or structures are indicated by the same labels in the figures.

[0125] Compared to the flexible cover plate 1 described in Figure 10, the difference in this embodiment is that the first coating 12 located on the first surface 111 of the substrate layer 11 extends beyond the outer peripheral edge 113 of the substrate layer 11. In other words, the projection of the substrate layer 11 in the stacking plane is located within the projection of the first coating 12 in the stacking plane, and the outer dimension of the first coating 12 is larger than the outer dimension of the substrate layer 11. As shown in Figure 13, a second coating 17 is stacked on the second surface 112 of the substrate layer 11. The second coating 17 is formed by applying a flowable curable material to the second surface 112 of the substrate layer 12. The second coating 17 covers the outer peripheral edge 113 of the substrate layer 11 and is bonded to the first coating 12. In this way, based on the fluidity of the flowable curable material, while the second coating 17 is formed on the second surface 112 of the substrate layer 11, it can also cover the outer peripheral edge 113 of the substrate layer 11 during the flow molding process and bond to the first coating 12 extending from the substrate layer 11, effectively avoiding the thickness difference that may occur during the assembly and bonding of the second coating 12 side. Similarly, the fluid curable material used to form the second coating 17 can fully fill the surface microstructure of the substrate layer 11 and the surface microstructure of the portion of the first coating 12 extending out of the substrate layer 11, so that the second coating 17 and the substrate layer 11 and the second coating 17 and the first coating 12 have better interfacial adhesion, which can further reduce the risk of bending and delamination and meet the long-term durability requirements of flexible screens.

[0126] The second coating 17 is made of a fluid coating material, such as, but not limited to, a coating material with high elasticity, high toughness, and high creep recovery. Similarly, the material of the second coating 17 can fill the microporous structure of the substrate layer 11 surface, and the outer surface of the formed first coating 12 is flush. In specific implementations, the materials of the second coating 17 and the first coating 12 can be the same, for example, both can be made of fluid acrylic resin; or the materials of the second coating 17 and the first coating 12 can be different, for example, one can be made of fluid acrylic resin and the other of silicone. The specific choice can be determined according to the overall product design requirements, and this application embodiment does not limit this.

[0127] Furthermore, the thicknesses of the second coating 17 and the first coating 12 can be the same or different. Here, thickness refers to the thickness of the portion of the second coating 17 and the first coating 12 that overlaps with the UTG.

[0128] The specific implementation of other functional components can adopt the same implementation method as the embodiment described in Figure 10 above. It will not be repeated here.

[0129] Furthermore, for the flexible cover plate without a hardened layer as described in Figures 4 and 7, a second coating (not shown in the figures) can be formed on the second surface 112 of the substrate layer 11 as needed using a fluid curable material to avoid thickness differences that may occur during the assembly and bonding process of the second coating side. This will not be elaborated further here.

[0130] The flexible cover plate described in Figure 13 will be briefly explained below with reference to the processing procedure diagram shown in Figure 14.

[0131] First, as shown in Figure 14(a), a substrate layer 11 is prepared, and an ink masking edge 131 and an ink ring 132 are coated on the first surface 111.

[0132] Then, as shown in Figure 14(b), an acrylic resin layer is coated on the first surface 111, ink masking edge 131, and ink ring 132 of the substrate layer 11. Here, the acrylic resin (12) extends out of the outer peripheral edge 113 of the substrate layer 11. Specifically, the acrylic resin layer can be formed by coating with a mold (mold not shown) whose supporting surface is flush with the first surface 111 of the substrate layer 11.

[0133] Next, the acrylic resin is cured to form a first coating 12 with a thickness of 2μm to 200μm.

[0134] Then, as shown in Figure 14(c), a second coating 17 is prepared.

[0135] In a specific implementation, an acrylic resin layer is coated on the second surface 112 of the substrate layer 11. This fluid curable material forms a second coating 17 on the second surface 112 of the substrate layer 11, while simultaneously covering the outer peripheral edge 113 of the substrate layer 11. Here, the fluid curable material used to form the second coating 17 can also be achieved using processes such as slot coating, blade coating, or spraying. The specific method can be selected as needed, and this application embodiment does not limit the choice.

[0136] Finally, as shown in Figure 14(d), a hardening layer 16 is laminated on the side of the first coating 12 away from the substrate layer 11.

[0137] In specific process implementation, the same process method as the aforementioned embodiments can be adopted as needed. This application does not limit the scope of the embodiments.

[0138] As shown in Figure 15, based on the flexible cover plate 1 described in Figure 13, a first adhesive layer 14 can be stacked on the side of the hardened layer 16 away from the first coating layer 12, and a second adhesive layer 15 can be stacked on the side of the second coating layer 17 away from the substrate layer 11. During assembly, the first adhesive layer 14 can be bonded and fixed to other functional protective layers (not shown in the figure), and the second adhesive layer 15 can be bonded and fixed to the flexible display panel to form a flexible screen (not shown in the figure).

[0139] In practical applications, the second coating 17 is made of acrylic resin, and the second adhesive layer 15 can be made of OCA or PSA. Compared with the UTG method of direct bonding via OCA, the embodiments of this application are based on bonding of homologous materials (both organic materials), and the bonding force can reach 10N / cm to 15N / cm, which can further reduce the risk of bending separation.

[0140] The flexible cover plate described in Figure 13 uses a second coating 17 formed of a fluid curable material to cover the outer peripheral edge 113 of the substrate layer 11, avoiding possible thickness differences in the joint between the two protective layers. In other specific implementations, the outer peripheral edge 113 of the substrate layer 11 can also be covered by a first coating 12, or by both the first coating 12 and the second coating 17. Please refer to Figures 16, 17, and 18, where Figure 16 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of another flexible cover plate provided in this application embodiment, Figure 17 is a schematic diagram of the processing steps of the flexible cover plate shown in Figure 16, and Figure 18 is a schematic diagram of an application state of the flexible cover plate shown in Figure 16. In order to clearly show the difference or connection between this embodiment and the aforementioned embodiments, the same functional components or structures are indicated by the same markings in the figures.

[0141] Compared to the flexible cover plate 1 described in Figure 13, the difference in this embodiment is that: the first coating 12 located on the first surface 111 of the substrate layer 11 covers the outer peripheral edge 113 of the substrate layer 11; as shown in Figure 16, the second coating 17, which is stacked on the second surface 112 of the substrate layer 11, extends beyond the outer peripheral edge 113 of the substrate layer 11; the second coating 17 is formed by applying a flowable curable material to the second surface 112 of the substrate layer 12 and is bonded to the first coating 12 covering the outer peripheral edge 113 of the substrate layer 11. Similarly, the projection of the substrate layer 11 in the stacking plane, where the outer dimensions of the first coating 12 and the second coating 17 are larger than the outer dimensions of the substrate layer 11, can also effectively avoid thickness differences during assembly and further reduce the risk of bending and delamination, meeting the long-term durability requirements of the flexible screen.

[0142] The specific implementation of other functional components can adopt the same implementation method as the embodiment described in Figure 13 above. It will not be repeated here.

[0143] The flexible cover plate described in Figure 16 will be briefly explained below with reference to the processing procedure diagram shown in Figure 17.

[0144] First, as shown in Figure 17(a), a substrate layer 11 is prepared, and an ink masking edge 131 and an ink ring 132 are coated on the first surface 111.

[0145] Then, as shown in Figure 17(b), an acrylic resin layer is coated on the substrate layer 11, the ink masking edge 131 and the ink ring 132. Here, the acrylic resin forms a protective layer on the first surface of the substrate layer 11 and covers the outer peripheral edge 113 (mold not shown) of the substrate layer 11.

[0146] Next, the acrylic resin is cured to form a first coating 12 with a thickness of 2μm to 200μm.

[0147] Then, as shown in Figure 17(c), a second coating 17 is prepared.

[0148] In a specific implementation, an acrylic resin layer is coated on the second surface 112 of the substrate layer 11 to form a second coating 17 with a thickness of 2μm to 200μm. Here, the fluid curable material used to form the second coating 17 can also be achieved by processes such as slot coating, blade coating, or spraying, and the specific method can be selected as needed. This application embodiment does not limit the specific method.

[0149] Finally, as shown in Figure 17(d), a hardening layer 16 is laminated on the side of the first coating 12 away from the substrate layer 11.

[0150] In specific process implementation, the same process method as the aforementioned embodiments can be adopted as needed. This application does not limit the scope of the embodiments.

[0151] As shown in Figure 18, based on the flexible cover plate 1 described in Figure 16, a first adhesive layer 14 can be stacked on the side of the hardened layer 16 away from the first coating layer 12, and a second adhesive layer 15 can be stacked on the side of the second coating layer 17 away from the substrate layer. During assembly, the first adhesive layer 14 can be bonded and fixed to other functional protective layers (not shown in the figure), and the second adhesive layer 15 can be bonded and fixed to the flexible display panel to form a flexible screen (not shown in the figure).

[0152] The flexible cover plates described in Figures 10, 13, and 16 all have their HC layers stacked on the side of the ink layer (ink obscuring edge 131 and ink ring 132) of the substrate layer 11. In other specific implementations, the HC layer may also be stacked on the opposite side of the ink layer of the substrate layer 11. Please refer to Figures 19 and 20 together, where Figure 19 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of another flexible cover plate provided in an embodiment of this application, and Figure 20 is a schematic diagram of an application state of the flexible cover plate shown in Figure 19. In order to clearly show the differences or connections between this embodiment and the aforementioned embodiments, the same functional components or structures are indicated by the same reference numerals in the figures.

[0153] Compared to the flexible cover plate 1 described in Figure 13, the difference in this embodiment is that, as shown in Figure 19, a hardening layer 16 is laminated on the side of the second coating 17 of the flexible cover plate 1 away from the substrate layer 11. Similarly, this enhances the hardness of the flexible cover plate and provides better scratch protection.

[0154] The specific implementation of other functional components can adopt the same implementation method as the aforementioned embodiments. Further details will not be provided here.

[0155] Based on the flexible cover plate 1 described in FIG19, as shown in FIG20, a first adhesive layer 14 can be stacked on the side of the hardened layer 16 away from the second coating layer 17, and a second adhesive layer 15 can be stacked on the side of the first coating layer 12 away from the substrate layer 11. During assembly, the first adhesive layer 14 can be bonded and fixed to other functional protective layers (not shown in the figure), and the second adhesive layer 15 can be bonded and fixed to the flexible display panel to form a flexible screen (not shown in the figure).

[0156] In addition to the aforementioned flexible cover plate and flexible screen, this application embodiment also provides a foldable electronic device. In a specific implementation, when the foldable electronic device is in a folded state, the flexible screen 10 shown in FIG1 can be located between the first body 20 and the second body 40. Referring to FIG21, the first body 20 and the second body 40 are located on the outer side, that is, the foldable electronic device 100 can be an inward-folding screen electronic device. In other specific implementations, when the foldable electronic device 100 is in a folded state, the flexible screen 10 can be located on the outer side of the first body 20 and the second body 40. Referring to FIG22, the first body 20 and the second body 40 are located on the inner side, that is, the foldable electronic device 100 can be an outward-folding screen electronic device.

[0157] It should be noted that the folded state and the unfolded state of this foldable electronic device are two different usage states. Relatively speaking, the angle between the first body 20 and the second body 40 in the folded state is smaller than the angle between the first body 20 and the second body 40 in the unfolded state. Specifically, in the unfolded state, the angle between the first body 20 and the second body 40 can be 180 degrees, roughly flat, or it can be a non-180-degree unfolded state; in the folded state, the first body 20 and the second body 40 can be stacked parallel to each other, or they can be folded at a smaller angle. This application does not limit the embodiments.

[0158] It should be understood that other functional components of this foldable electronic device can be implemented using existing technologies, so they will not be elaborated upon here.

[0159] Furthermore, the ordinal numbers "first" and "second," etc., used herein are only for describing the composition or structure of the same function in the technical solution. It is understood that the use of the aforementioned ordinal numbers does not constitute a limitation on the understanding of the technical solution for which protection is sought in this application.

[0160] The above are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various improvements and modifications without departing from the principle of the present invention, and these improvements and modifications should also be considered within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A flexible cover plate, characterized in that, The flexible cover plate includes a substrate layer, a first coating, and an ink portion. The substrate layer includes a first surface, the ink portion is located on the first surface, and the first coating covers the first surface and the ink portion, and fills the edge of the ink portion adjacent to the substrate layer.

2. The flexible cover plate according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first coating comprises acrylic resin and / or silicone.

3. The flexible cover plate according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first coating is made of a fluid curable material.

4. The flexible cover plate according to claim 3, characterized in that, The first coating is formed by curing the fluid curable material applied to the first surface.

5. The flexible cover plate according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The ink portion includes an ink shielding edge located at the peripheral edge of the first surface and / or an ink ring located within the first surface.

6. The flexible cover plate according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The substrate layer further includes a second surface and an outer peripheral edge, the second surface being disposed opposite to the first surface, and the outer peripheral edge being located between the first surface and the second surface; the flexible cover plate further includes a second coating, the second coating being laminated on the second surface, and the second coating being made of a flowable curable material; The second coating covers the outer peripheral edge and bonds with the first coating; or, The first coating covers the outer peripheral edge and is bonded to the second coating; or, The first coating and the second coating are joined at the outer peripheral edge to jointly cover the outer peripheral edge.

7. The flexible cover plate according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The flexible cover plate further includes a hardening layer, which is stacked on the side of the first coating away from the substrate layer, and the hardness of the hardening layer is greater than the hardness of the first coating layer; or, the hardening layer is stacked on the side of the substrate layer away from the first coating layer, and the hardness of the hardening layer is greater than the hardness of the substrate layer.

8. The flexible cover plate according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, The substrate layer is made of at least one of ultrathin glass, sapphire, or transparent ceramic.

9. The flexible cover plate according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that, The substrate layer has a uniform thickness structure; or, the substrate layer includes a first region and a second region located on both sides of the first region, and the thickness of the first region is thinner than the thickness of the second region.

10. A flexible screen, characterized in that, The flexible screen includes a flexible display panel and a flexible cover plate stacked together, wherein the flexible cover plate is the flexible cover plate described in any one of claims 1 to 9.

11. The flexible screen according to claim 10, characterized in that, The flexible cover plate and the flexible display panel are bonded together by an adhesive layer.

12. The flexible screen according to claim 11, characterized in that, The adhesive layer includes optically transparent adhesive or pressure-sensitive adhesive.

13. A foldable electronic device, characterized in that, The foldable electronic device includes a flexible screen as described in any one of claims 10 to 12, a first body, a hinge, and a second body. The flexible screen covers the surfaces of the first body and the second body. The first body is connected to the second body via the hinge. The first body and the second body are rotatable relative to each other to cause the flexible screen to bend.

14. The flexible screen according to claim 13, characterized in that, The substrate layer includes a first region and a second region located on both sides of the first region, and the thickness of the first region is thinner than that of the second region; the first region is correspondingly disposed to the hinge so that the flexible screen avoids the hinge at the first region.

15. A method for preparing a flexible cover plate, characterized in that, The preparation method includes the following steps: A substrate layer is obtained, the substrate layer including a first surface, and an ink portion is coated on the first surface; A first coating is formed, which covers the first surface and the ink portion, and fills the edge where the ink portion is adjacent to the substrate layer.

16. The method for preparing the flexible cover plate according to claim 15, characterized in that, The process of creating the first coating includes: The first surface and the ink portion are covered with a fluid curable material; The first coating is formed by curing a fluid curable material that covers the first surface and the ink portion.

17. The method for preparing the flexible cover plate according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that, The ink portion includes an ink shielding edge located at the peripheral edge of the first surface and / or an ink ring located within the first surface.

18. A method for preparing a flexible cover plate according to any one of claims 15 to 17, characterized in that, The substrate layer further includes a second surface and an outer peripheral edge, the second surface being disposed opposite to the first surface, and the outer peripheral edge being located between the first surface and the second surface; The preparation method further includes: preparing a second coating, wherein the second coating is stacked on the second surface.

19. The method for preparing the flexible cover plate according to claim 18, characterized in that, The preparation of the second coating includes: Cover the second surface with a fluid, curable material; The flowable curable material located on the second surface is cured to form the second coating.

20. The method for preparing the flexible cover plate according to claim 19, characterized in that, The step of covering the second surface with a fluid, curable material includes: The fluidized, curable material is applied to the second surface and the outer peripheral edge, and then bonded to the first coating. or, The step of covering the first surface and the ink portion with a fluid curable material includes: A fluid curable material is applied to the first surface, the ink portion, and the outer peripheral edge to bond with the second coating. or, The step of covering the first surface and the ink portion with a fluid curable material includes: The first surface, the ink portion, and part of the outer peripheral edge are covered with a fluid curable material; The step of covering the second surface with a fluid, curable material includes: The fluid curable material is applied to the second surface and part of the outer peripheral edge and bonded to the first coating.

21. The method for preparing the flexible cover plate according to any one of claims 18 to 20, characterized in that, The step of covering the first surface with a fluid, curable material includes: The fluid curable material is applied to the first surface using a slot coating, blade coating, or spray coating process; and / or The step of covering the second surface with a fluid, curable material includes: The fluid curable material is applied to the second surface using a slot coating, scraping, or spraying process.

Images