CN111798758B

CN111798758B - Display device

Info

Publication number: CN111798758B
Application number: CN202010680584.7A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 李宗颖; 林恭正; 黄宝玉
Original assignee: AU Optronics Corp
Current assignee: AU Optronics Corp
Priority date: 2019-07-16
Filing date: 2020-07-15
Publication date: 2023-03-31
Anticipated expiration: 2040-07-15
Also published as: CN111798758A

Abstract

A display device comprises a bearing main body, a flexible display panel, two supporting layers and an elastic buffer structure. The bearing main body comprises two bodies which can be relatively unfolded and relatively closed. The flexible display panel is provided with a bendable section and two non-bendable sections, and the bendable section is connected between the two non-bendable sections. The two supporting layers are respectively overlapped on the two non-bending sections and are respectively arranged on the two bodies, and the flexible display panel is suitable for being unfolded along with the relative unfolding of the two bodies. The elastic buffer structure is connected between the two supporting layers and is positioned between the bendable section and the bearing main body.

Description

Display device

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to display devices, and particularly to a display device including a flexible display panel.

Background

With the development of display panel technology, the manufacturing technology of the flexible display panel is mature, so that the flexible display panel is popularized in consumer products. The flexible display panel can be applied to foldable electronic devices such as a foldable mobile phone and a tablet computer, and is simultaneously configured on two bodies of the electronic device and can be bent along with the relative turning of the two bodies. In such an electronic device, two non-bending sections of the flexible display panel are generally overlapped on the stainless steel sheet and disposed on the two bodies, respectively, so that the two non-bending sections of the flexible display panel are less prone to deformation due to impact. However, the bending section of the flexible display panel connected between the two non-bending sections is not protected by the stainless steel sheet and the body, so that the flexible display panel is easily deformed or damaged when being impacted.

Disclosure of Invention

The invention provides a display device, wherein a bending section of a flexible display panel is not easy to deform or damage when being impacted.

The display device comprises a bearing main body, a flexible display panel, two supporting layers and an elastic buffer structure. The bearing main body comprises two bodies which can be relatively unfolded and relatively closed. The flexible display panel has a bendable section and two non-bendable sections, and the bendable section is connected between the two non-bendable sections. The two supporting layers are respectively overlapped on the two non-bending sections and are respectively arranged on the two bodies, and the flexible display panel is suitable for being unfolded along with the relative unfolding of the two bodies. The elastic buffer structure is connected between the two supporting layers and is positioned between the bendable section and the bearing main body.

In an embodiment of the invention, the flexible display panel is adapted to be folded between the two bodies along with the relative closing of the two bodies.

In an embodiment of the invention, the elastic buffer structure includes a buffer element and at least two elastic connecting members, and the buffer element is connected to the two supporting layers through the at least two elastic connecting members, respectively.

In an embodiment of the invention, the buffering element is glued to each elastic connecting member.

In an embodiment of the invention, each of the elastic connection members is glued to the corresponding support layer.

In an embodiment of the invention, a hook ring is disposed at one end of each of the elastic connection members, and the elastic connection members are hooked to the corresponding support layer through the hook ring.

In an embodiment of the invention, the buffering element and the at least two elastic connecting pieces are integrally formed.

In an embodiment of the invention, the buffer element is cylindrical.

In an embodiment of the invention, a gap is formed between the buffer element and the bendable section.

In an embodiment of the invention, a material of the buffer element includes a metal.

In an embodiment of the invention, a material of the buffering element includes a polymer.

In an embodiment of the invention, each of the elastic connecting elements is an elastic rope, wherein a material of the elastic rope includes a polymer.

In an embodiment of the invention, each of the elastic connection members is a spring.

In an embodiment of the invention, the extending direction of each elastic connecting component is perpendicular to the extending direction of the buffering element, wherein one side of the buffering element is connected with N elastic connecting components, the other side of the buffering element is connected with M elastic connecting components, N ≧ 2, M ≧ 2, and the elastic connecting components on both sides of the buffering element are in one-to-one alignment.

In an embodiment of the invention, the extending direction of each elastic connecting member is inclined to the extending direction of the buffering element, wherein one side of the buffering element is connected with N elastic connecting members, the other side of the buffering element is connected with M elastic connecting members, N is greater than or equal to 2, M is greater than or equal to 2, and the elastic connecting members substantially form an X shape.

In an embodiment of the invention, the length of the buffering element is between 0.5 mm and 200 mm, the width of the buffering element is between 8 mm and 30 mm, and the height of the buffering element is between 8 mm and 30 mm, wherein the length of each elastic connecting member is between 1 mm and 15 mm, the width of each elastic connecting member is between 0.5 mm and 200 mm, and the height of each elastic connecting member is between 8 mm and 30 mm.

In view of the above, in the display device of the invention, an elastic buffer structure connected between the two supporting layers is additionally provided, and the elastic buffer structure corresponds to the bendable section of the flexible display panel. Therefore, when the display device is impacted, the elastic buffer structure can absorb the impact force to avoid the impact force from being directly transmitted to the bendable section of the flexible display panel, so that the bendable section is not easy to deform or damage due to impact.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic side view of a display device according to an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 shows the two bodies of fig. 1 relatively closed.

Fig. 3A and 3B respectively show a simulated impact test without the elastic buffer structure of fig. 1 and with the elastic buffer structure of fig. 1.

Fig. 4A and 4B show the strain distribution of the flexible structure of fig. 3A and 3B when being impacted.

Fig. 5 illustrates a connection manner of elements of the elastic buffer structure of fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a partial top view of the elastomeric cushioning structure of fig. 5.

Fig. 7 shows a connection manner of elements of the elastic buffer structure according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 8 is a partial top view of the resilient buffer structure and supporting layer of fig. 7.

FIG. 9 is a partial top view of a resilient buffer structure and a supporting layer according to another embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 10 shows a connection manner of elements of the elastic buffer structure according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 11 is a partial top view of the resilient cushion structure and support layer of fig. 10.

FIG. 12 is a partial top view of a resilient buffer structure and a support layer according to another embodiment of the invention.

The reference numbers are as follows:

50 flexible structure

60 buffer element

70 stainless steel ball

100 display device

110 bearing main body

112. 114 body

116 pivot structure

120 flexible display panel

120a bendable zone

120b, 120c non-bent sections

130 elastic buffer structure

132 buffer element

134. 134' elastic connecting piece

134a hook ring

140 supporting layer

D, outer diameter

D1, D1', D2 directions

F is impact force

G is clearance

H1, H2 height

L1, L2 length

R is radius of curvature

W1, W2 width

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 is a schematic side view of a display device according to an embodiment of the invention. Fig. 2 shows the two bodies of fig. 1 relatively closed. Referring to fig. 1 and fig. 2, the display device 100 of the present embodiment is, for example, a smart phone, a tablet computer or a notebook computer, and includes a supporting body 110, a flexible display panel 120, two supporting layers 140 and an elastic buffer structure 130. The main body 110 includes two

bodies

112, 114 and a pivot structure (hinge) 116, wherein the two

bodies

112, 114 are pivotally connected to each other through the pivot structure 116 and can be opened and closed relatively as shown in fig. 1 and 2. The present invention does not limit the deployable angle of the two

bodies

112, 114, which can be further deployed from the state shown in fig. 1 to have a larger deployed angle, such as a fully flat display state (not shown).

The flexible display panel 120 has a bendable section 120a and two

non-bendable sections

120b and 120c, and the bendable section 120a is connected between the two

non-bendable sections

120b and 120 c. In the display device 100 in the non-flat display state, the bending degree of the

non-bending sections

120b and 120c is lower than that of the bendable section 120 a. In the non-flat display state or the flat display state, the bending

sections

120b and 120c are, for example, not bent at all, but the invention is not limited thereto. The two support layers 140 are, for example, stainless steel sheets, which are respectively stacked on the two

non-bending sections

120b and 120c and respectively disposed on the two

bodies

112 and 114, and the flexible display panel 120 can be unfolded with the two

bodies

112 and 114 being relatively unfolded as shown in fig. 1, and can be folded between the two

bodies

112 and 114 with the two

bodies

112 and 114 being relatively closed as shown in fig. 2. In other embodiments, the flexible display panel 120 may be exposed on two opposite sides of the display device 100 along with the two

bodies

112 and 114 being folded back relatively, which is not limited in the present invention.

In the display device 100 of the present invention, an elastic buffer structure 130 connected between two supporting layers 140 is additionally provided, and the elastic buffer structure 130 is located between the bendable section 120a of the flexible display panel 120 and the main carrying body 110. Therefore, when the display device 100 is impacted, the elastic buffer structure 130 corresponding to the bendable section 120a absorbs the impact force to prevent the impact force from being directly transmitted to the bendable section 120a, so that the bendable section 120a is not easily deformed or damaged by the impact. In addition, as shown in fig. 1, a gap G is provided between the buffer element 130 and the bendable section 120a of the flexible display panel 120, so as to further ensure that the impact force is not directly transmitted from the buffer element 130 to the bendable section 120a, and the impact force borne by the bendable section 120a can be further reduced.

Fig. 3A and 3B respectively show a simulated impact test without the elastic buffer structure of fig. 1 and with the elastic buffer structure of fig. 1, wherein the flexible structure 50 is equivalent to the flexible display panel 120 of fig. 1, the curvature radius R of the bending section thereof is set to 2 mm, the buffer element 60 is equivalent to the elastic buffer structure of fig. 1, the material thereof is super-elastic material (super-elastic material), the acting force generated by the stainless steel ball 70 moving from top to bottom is equivalent to an impact force, the outer diameter D thereof is set to 3 mm, and the equivalent impact force F thereof is set to 0.2 n. Fig. 4A and 4B show the strain distribution of the flexible structure of fig. 3A and 3B when being impacted. If the buffer element 60 (equivalent to the elastic buffer structure 130 in fig. 1) is not provided as shown in fig. 3A, the impact force F acting on the flexible structure 50 (equivalent to the flexible display panel 120 in fig. 1) causes the maximum strain generated by the flexible structure 50 to be 0.5%. If the buffer element 60 (equivalent to the elastic buffer structure 130 in fig. 1) is disposed as shown in fig. 3B, the impact force F acting on the flexible structure 50 (equivalent to the flexible display panel 120 in fig. 1) causes the maximum strain generated by the flexible structure 50 to be 0.08%. Further, comparing the strain distribution of the flexible structure 50 in fig. 4A and 4B, it can be seen that the degree of deformation of the flexible structure 50 is significantly reduced as shown in fig. 4B when the cushioning element 60 is provided in fig. 3B. Therefore, in the embodiment, the elastic buffer structure 130 is additionally disposed between the bendable section 120a of the flexible display panel 120 and the supporting body 110, so as to effectively reduce the deformation of the bendable section 120a of the flexible display panel 120 when the whole structure is subjected to an impact force.

In detail, the elastic buffer structure 130 of the present embodiment includes a buffer element 132 and at least two elastic connecting members 134 as shown in fig. 1 and fig. 2, wherein the buffer element 132 is connected to two support layers 140 through the two elastic connecting members 134 respectively. At least two elastic connections 134 are located, for example, on each side of the damping element 132. The material of each elastic connector 134 may be metal or polymer. When the two

bodies

112, 114 of the display device 100 are flipped over, each elastic connecting element 134 is elastically deformed, and the buffering element 132 is maintained in a state of being connected to the two supporting layers 140 through the two elastic connecting elements 134. The material of the buffer element 132 may be metal or polymer. When the display apparatus 100 is impacted, the elastic buffer structure 130 absorbs the impact force through the buffer member 132. In some embodiments, the cushioning element 132 and each of the elastic connectors 134 may be made of the same material and have an integral structure.

The detailed configuration of the buffer element 132 and the elastic connection element 134 is further described below with reference to the drawings.

Fig. 5 illustrates a connection manner of elements of the elastic buffer structure of fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a partial top view of the elastomeric cushioning structure of fig. 5. Referring to fig. 5 and fig. 6, in the present embodiment, the number of the elastic connecting members 134 is plural, one side of the buffering element 132 is connected to the N elastic connecting members 134, the other side of the buffering element 132 is connected to the M elastic connecting members 134, N is greater than or equal to 2, M is greater than or equal to 2, in the present embodiment, N = M =4, and the elastic connecting members 134 on both sides of the buffering element 132 are in one-to-one alignment. Each of the elastic connectors 134 is, for example, an elastic cord, and the material of each elastic connector may include polymer. The damping element 132 is connected to the respective elastic connection 134, for example by gluing. One end of each elastic connecting element 134, which is away from the buffering element 132, is provided with a hook 134a, and the hook 134a is hooked on the corresponding hook portion 140a of the supporting layer 140. The two

bodies

112 and 114 shown in fig. 1 and fig. 2 may have a receiving space therein for receiving the hooking portion 140a of the supporting layer 140. The buffering element 132 of the present embodiment is, for example, cylindrical, but the invention is not limited thereto, and may be other suitable shapes.

In the present embodiment, a length L1 (shown in fig. 6) of the buffering element 132 is, for example, between 0.5 mm and 200 mm, a width W1 (shown in fig. 5 and 6) of the buffering element 132 is, for example, between 8 mm and 30 mm, and a height H1 (shown in fig. 5) of the buffering element 132 is, for example, between 8 mm and 30 mm. In addition, the length L2 (shown in fig. 5 and 6) of each elastic connection element 134 is, for example, between 1 mm and 15 mm, the width W2 (shown in fig. 6) of each elastic connection element 134 is, for example, between 0.5 mm and 200 mm, and the height H2 (shown in fig. 5) of each elastic connection element 134 is, for example, between 8 mm and 30 mm. In other embodiments, the size of the buffering element 132 and each elastic connection element 134 can be adjusted according to the size of the structure of the display device 100, which is not limited in the present invention.

The present invention is not limited to the connection manner and kind of the elastic connection member 134, and is exemplified as follows.

Fig. 7 shows a connection manner of elements of the elastic buffer structure according to another embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 8 is a partial top view of the resilient cushion structure and support layer of fig. 7. The embodiment of fig. 7 and 8 differs from the embodiment of fig. 5 and 6 in that in the embodiment of fig. 7 and 8, each resilient connecting element 134 is connected to the corresponding support layer 140 by gluing. In addition, in the embodiment shown in fig. 6 and the embodiment shown in fig. 8, the extending direction D1 of each elastic connecting element 134 is perpendicular to the extending direction D2 of the buffering element 132, but the invention is not limited thereto. FIG. 9 is a partial top view of a resilient buffer structure and a supporting layer according to another embodiment of the invention. The embodiment shown in fig. 9 is different from the embodiment shown in fig. 8 in that in the embodiment shown in fig. 9, the extending direction D1' of each elastic connecting member 134 is inclined to the extending direction D2 of the buffering element 132, and the distribution of the elastic connecting members 134 is substantially radial, for example, in an X shape.

Fig. 10 shows a connection manner of elements of the elastic buffer structure according to another embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 11 is a partial top view of the resilient cushion structure and support layer of fig. 10. The embodiment of fig. 10 and 11 differs from the embodiment of fig. 5 and 6 in that in the embodiment of fig. 10 and 11, each resilient connecting element 134' is a spring, and the material of each resilient connecting element comprises metal or polymer. In other embodiments, each elastic connection 134' may be another elastic element different from the rope and the spring, and the invention is not limited thereto. In the embodiment shown in fig. 11, the extending direction D1 of each elastic connection element 134' is perpendicular to the extending direction D2 of the buffering element 132, but the invention is not limited thereto. FIG. 12 is a partial top view of a resilient buffer structure and a support layer according to another embodiment of the invention. The embodiment shown in fig. 12 differs from the embodiment shown in fig. 11 in that in the embodiment shown in fig. 12, the extending direction D1' of each elastic connecting element 134' is inclined to the extending direction D2 of the buffer element 132, and the distribution of the elastic connecting elements 134' is substantially radial, for example, in an X shape.

In summary, in the display device of the invention, an elastic buffer structure connected between the two supporting layers is additionally provided, and the elastic buffer structure corresponds to the bendable section of the flexible display panel. Therefore, when the display device is impacted, the elastic buffer structure can absorb the impact force to avoid the impact force from being directly transmitted to the bendable section of the flexible display panel, so that the bendable section is not easy to deform or damage due to impact.

Claims

1. A display device, comprising:

the bearing main body comprises two machine bodies which can be relatively unfolded and closed and a pivot structure, the two machine bodies are mutually pivoted through the pivot structure, and the pivot structure is positioned between the two machine bodies;

a flexible display panel having a bendable section and two non-bendable sections, wherein the bendable section is connected between the two non-bendable sections;

two stainless steel sheet supporting layers, wherein the two stainless steel sheet supporting layers are respectively stacked on the two non-bending sections of the flexible display panel and are respectively arranged on the two bodies, so that the two stainless steel sheet supporting layers are respectively positioned between one of the two non-bending sections of the flexible display panel and one of the two bodies, and the flexible display panel is suitable for being unfolded along with the relative unfolding of the two bodies; and

an elastic buffer structure connected between the two stainless steel supporting layers and located between the bendable section of the flexible display panel and the main bearing body, wherein the elastic buffer structure includes a cylindrical buffer element and at least two elastic connecting pieces, the cylindrical buffer element is connected to the two stainless steel supporting layers through the at least two elastic connecting pieces, respectively, wherein the cylindrical buffer element is located between the bendable section of the flexible display panel and the pivot structure of the main bearing body, wherein the cylindrical buffer element is made of metal or polymer, when the display device is impacted, the cylindrical buffer element of the elastic buffer structure corresponding to the bendable section of the flexible display panel is used for absorbing impact force to prevent the impact force from being directly transmitted to the bendable section of the flexible display panel, so that the bendable section is not easily deformed or damaged due to the impact, the elastic buffer structure is located between the pivot structure and the bendable section of the flexible display panel, and the cylindrical buffer element and the bendable section of the flexible display panel have a gap therebetween, thus ensuring that the impact force is not directly transmitted to the bendable section of the flexible display panel, and further reducing the impact force.

2. The display device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flexible display panel is adapted to be folded between the two bodies along with the relative closing of the two bodies.

3. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the buffer member is glued to each of the elastic connection members.

4. The display device according to claim 1, wherein each of the elastic connecting members is bonded to the corresponding supporting layer.

5. The display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the two bodies have accommodating spaces for accommodating a hooking portion of the two supporting layers respectively, wherein an extending direction of the hooking portion is perpendicular to an extending direction of the supporting layer corresponding to the hooking portion, and a hook ring is disposed at an end of each of the elastic connecting members and connected to the hooking portions respectively, and hooked to the corresponding supporting layer through the hook ring.

6. The display device of claim 1, wherein the buffer element and the at least two elastic connectors are integrally formed.

7. The display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the elastic connecting members is an elastic cord, wherein the material of the elastic cord comprises a polymer.

8. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the elastic connectors is a spring.

9. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the extending direction of each elastic connecting member is perpendicular to the extending direction of the buffer member, wherein one side of the buffer member is connected to N elastic connecting members, the other side of the buffer member is connected to M elastic connecting members, N ≧ 2, M ≧ 2, and the elastic connecting members on both sides of the buffer member are aligned one-to-one.

10. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the extending direction of each of the elastic connecting members is inclined to the extending direction of the buffer member, wherein one side of the buffer member is connected to N elastic connecting members, the other side of the buffer member is connected to M elastic connecting members, N ≧ 2, M ≧ 2, and a plurality of the elastic connecting members substantially form an X-shape.

11. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the length of the buffer element is between 0.5 mm and 200 mm, the width of the buffer element is between 8 mm and 30 mm, the height of the buffer element is between 8 mm and 30 mm, wherein the length of each elastic connecting member is between 1 mm and 15 mm, the width of each elastic connecting member is between 0.5 mm and 200 mm, and the height of each elastic connecting member is between 8 mm and 30 mm.