TWI664475B - Flexible display - Google Patents

Abstract

A flexible display includes a support substrate and a flexible display panel. The support substrate includes a bendable portion and a pair of non-bendable portions. The bendable portion is connected between the non-bendable portions and includes a bearing layer and a first support layer. The carrier layer is connected to these non-bent portions. The thickness of the bearing layer is smaller than the thickness of each non-curved portion. The first support layer is connected to the non-curved portions and includes at least one deformed convex rib. A first hollow space is formed between the first support layer and the bearing layer. The thickness of the first support layer is smaller than the thickness of each non-curved portion. The flexible display panel is fixed to the bearing layer and covers the bendable portion and these non-bendable portions. When the flexible display is bent, at least one deformation convex rib is deformed and contacts the bearing layer.

Description

Flexible display

The invention relates to a display, and in particular to a flexible display.

Current flexible displays include a flexible display panel that can bend as the flexible display bends. However, the existing flexible display panel has a bending limit. In detail, when the flexible display panel is excessively bent, the flexible display panel may be damaged. For example, the surface of the flexible display panel has creases that deteriorate the picture quality. Moreover, the flexible display panel may be broken.

The present invention provides a flexible display including a supporting substrate capable of supporting a flexible display panel.

The flexible display provided by the present invention includes a supporting substrate and a flexible display panel. The support substrate includes a bendable portion and a pair of non-bendable portions, wherein the bendable portion is connected between the non-bendable portions and is bent along an axis. The bendable portion includes a bearing layer and a first support layer. The bearing layer is connected to these non-curved portions and has an outer surface and an inner surface opposite to the outer surface, wherein the thickness of the bearing layer is smaller than the thickness of each non-curved portion. The first support layer is connected to these non-curved portions, wherein a first hollow space is formed between the first support layer and the inner surface, and the first support layer includes at least one deformed convex rib, wherein at least one deformed convex rib extends along the axis, The thickness of the first support layer is smaller than the thickness of each non-curved portion. The flexible display panel is fixed on the outer surface and covers the bendable portion and these non-bendable portions. When the flexible display is bent along the axis, the inner surface forms a curved surface, and at least one deformation convex rib deforms and contacts the bearing layer.

In at least one embodiment of the present invention, the bearing layer further includes at least one bump protruding from the inner surface. When the flexible display is bent along the axis, the at least one deformed rib is used to contact the at least one bump.

In at least one embodiment of the present invention, the non-curved portions, the bearing layer and the first supporting layer are all integrally formed.

In at least one embodiment of the present invention, the bendable portion further includes a second support layer connected to the non-bend portions, wherein the first support layer is located between the second support layer and the bearing layer, and the thickness of the second support layer is Less than the thickness of each non-curved portion. A second hollow space is formed between the second support layer and the first support layer. When the flexible display is bent along the axis, the second support layer contacts the first support layer.

In at least one embodiment of the present invention, the first supporting layer further includes at least one deformed concave rib, wherein the deformed concave rib extends along the axis. When the flexible display is bent along the axis, at least one deformed concave rib is deformed and contacts the second support layer.

In at least one embodiment of the present invention, the second supporting layer has a supporting surface and at least one deformable strip. At least one deformation bar is recessed in the support surface, and at least one deformation bar extends along the axis. When the flexible display is bent along the axis, the support surface of the second support layer contacts the first support layer, and at least one deformation bar does not contact the first support layer.

In at least one embodiment of the present invention, each of the non-curved portions includes a first substrate and a second substrate. Both the bearing layer and the first support layer are connected between the first substrates of the non-curved portions. The second support layer is connected between the second substrates of the non-curved portions, and the first substrate is located between the second substrate and the flexible display panel.

In at least one embodiment of the present invention, a distance between the second substrates is smaller than a distance between the first substrates, and the second substrates respectively protrude from side walls of the first substrates facing each other.

In at least one embodiment of the present invention, the first substrate, the carrier layer, and the first support layer are integrally formed.

In at least one embodiment of the present invention, the second substrate and the second support layer are integrally formed.

In at least one embodiment of the present invention, the non-curved portion, the bearing layer, the first supporting layer and the second supporting layer are integrally formed.

Based on the above, when the flexible display is bent along the axis, since the deformed ribs of the first supporting layer contact the bearing layer, the first supporting layer can support the bent portion of both the bearing layer and the flexible display panel to support the The substrate can support the flexible display panel, thereby helping to prevent the flexible display panel from being damaged after being bent.

In order to make the foregoing features and advantages of the present invention more comprehensible, embodiments are described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, as follows.

FIG. 1A is a schematic perspective view of a flexible display according to an embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG. 1A, the flexible display 100 includes a flexible display panel 110 and a support substrate 120, wherein the flexible display panel 110 is fixed on the support substrate 120. For example, the flexible display panel 110 may be adhered to the support substrate 120, but is not limited thereto. The flexible display panel 110 is also fixed to the support substrate 120 in other ways. In addition, the flexible display panel 110 is, for example, an Organic Light-Emitting Diode Panel (OLED Panel), an electrowetting display panel, or an Electro-Phoretic Display Panel (EPD Panel). Or micro-LED display panel.

FIG. 1B is a schematic perspective view of the flexible display in FIG. 1A after being bent. Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B, the supporting substrate 120 includes a bendable portion 120 a and a pair of non-bendable portions 120 b. The bendable portion 120 a is connected between the non-bendable portions 120 b and is flexible. When the flexible display 100 is bent by an external force, the bendable portion 120a can be bent along the axis A11, and the non-bent portions 120b are not bent, so that the non-bent portions 120b can be stacked on each other, as shown in FIG. 1B. Show. Therefore, the flexible display 100 can be applied to a foldable electronic device, such as a folding mobile phone and a folding tablet computer. In addition, the axis A11 is an imaginary reference line, which may be located at a middle portion of the bendable portion 120a. For example, the axis A11 is adjacent to or overlaps the center line of the bendable portion 120a.

The bendable portion 120a includes a bearing layer 123 and a first support layer 124a. The constituent materials of the bearing layer 123 and the first support layer 124a may be the same or different from each other, and may be a polymer material or a metal. The polymer material is, for example, polypropylene (PP) or polyethylene (PE). , But not limited to this. The bearing layer 123 and the first supporting layer 124a are connected to these non-bent portions 120b, and the bearing layer 123 and the first supporting layer 124a are separated from each other face to face so that a first hollow is formed between the bearing layer 123 and the first supporting layer 124a. Space H11.

The bearing layer 123 has an outer surface S11 and an inner surface S12, wherein the outer surface S11 is opposite to the inner surface S12. The flexible display panel 110 is fixed on the outer surface S11 and covers the bendable portion 120a and the non-curved portions 120b, and a first hollow space H11 is formed between the first support layer 124a and the inner surface S12. The carrying layer 123 may further have at least one bump 123b protruding from the inner surface S12. Taking FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B as an example, the number of the bumps 123b of the carrier layer 123 is three, and the bumps 123b all extend along the axis A11, so the bumps 123b are juxtaposed to each other. In addition, it should be noted that the number of the bumps 123b shown in FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B is for illustration only. In other embodiments, the number of the bumps 123b included in the carrier layer 123 may be only one or more. Therefore, the number of the bumps 123b included in the carrier layer 123 is not limited to three as shown in FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B. .

The first supporting layer 124a may include at least one deformed convex rib 124p and at least one deformed concave rib 124r. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B, the first supporting layer 124a includes two deforming convex ribs 124p and three deforming concave ribs 124r, but in other embodiments, the first supporting layer 124a includes the deforming convex ribs. The number of 124p may be only one, and the number of deformed concave ribs 124r may also be only one. Therefore, the number of both the deformed convex ribs 124p and the deformed concave ribs 124r included in the first support layer 124a is not limited to two or more.

The deformation convex ribs 124p and the deformation concave ribs 124r are arranged alternately with each other, so each deformation convex rib 124p is adjacent to at least one deformation concave rib 124r. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1A, each deformation convex rib 124 p is located between two adjacent deformation concave ribs 124 r. In addition, since the deformation convex ribs 124p and the deformation concave ribs 124r both extend along the axis A11, the deformation convex ribs 124p and the deformation concave ribs 124r are juxtaposed to each other.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, both the carrier layer 123 and the first support layer 124 a may be flexible film layers. Specifically, the supporting layer 123 may be a film layer having a non-uniform thickness, wherein the thick portion of the film layer defines a bump 123b. The first support layer 124a may be a film layer having a plurality of bends, wherein the bends form the deformation convex ribs 124p and the deformation concave ribs 124r. Taking FIG. 1A as an example, when the flexible display 100 is flattened without being bent, the shape of the first supporting layer 124a is similar to the shape of a square wave, wherein the deformation convex ribs 124p and the deformation concave ribs 124r are both Curved film.

The thickness 123t of the carrier layer 123 is smaller than the thickness 120t of each of the non-curved portions 120b, and the thickness 124t of the first support layer 124a is also smaller than the thickness of 120t of each of the non-curved portions 120b. Taking FIG. 1A as an example, the thickness 123t is the maximum thickness of the carrier layer 123 when the flexible display 100 is flattened without bending, that is, the thickness 123t is equivalent to the thickness of the bump 123b. The thickness 124t is also the maximum thickness of the first support layer 124a when the flexible display 100 is flattened without bending. The thickness 124t is equivalent to the distance between the top surface of the deformed convex rib 124p and the bottom surface of the deformed concave rib 124r, as shown in FIG. 1A. Show.

Since the thickness 123t of the carrier layer 123 and the thickness 124t of the first support layer 124a are smaller than the thickness 120t of the non-bent portion 120b, the carrier layer 123 and the first support layer 124a can form a living hinge. In this way, the flexible display 100 can be bent along the axis A11. When the flexible display 100 is bent along the axis A11, the inner surface S12 forms a curved surface, which is, for example, a concave cylindrical surface, and the deformation convex rib 124p deforms and contacts the bearing layer 123, wherein the deformation convex rib 124p can contact the convex Block 123b. Since the deformation convex rib 124p can contact the bearing layer 123, the first supporting layer 124a can support the bent portion of both the bearing layer 123 and the flexible display panel 110, and prevent the flexible display panel 110 from being excessively bent, thereby helping to prevent post-bending The flexible display panel 110 is damaged.

It is worth mentioning that in this embodiment, the bearing layer 123 has a bump 123b, which can contact the deformed ribs 124p, but in other embodiments, even if the bearing layer 123 is a film layer with a uniform thickness without any convexity In block 123b, the deformed convex rib 124p can still contact the bearing layer 123, so that the first supporting layer 124a can still support the bent portion of both the bearing layer 123 and the flexible display panel 110. Therefore, the bumps 123b shown in FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B are for illustration only, and the carrier layer 123 may not have any bumps 123b.

The bendable portion 120a may further include a second support layer 125b, wherein the first support layer 124a is located between the second support layer 125b and the bearing layer 123, and the second support layer 125b and the first support layer 124a are separated from each other face to face, As for the second hollow space H12 is formed between the second support layer 125b and the first support layer 124a. The constituent material of the second support layer 125b may be the same as the constituent material of at least one of the carrier layer 123 and the first support layer 124a, and may be a polymer material or a metal. Alternatively, the constituent materials of the second support layer 125b, the bearing layer 123, and the first support layer 124a may be different from each other.

The second support layer 125b has a support surface 125s and at least one deformed strip 125r, wherein the deformed strip 125r is recessed in the support surface 125s and extends along the axis A11. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the number of the deformation bars 125r of the second support layer 125b is two, and the two deformation bars 125r are juxtaposed to each other. However, in other embodiments, the number of the deformation bars 125r of the second support layer 125b may be only one or more than two. Therefore, the number of deformation bars 125r of the second support layer 125b is not limited to two as shown in FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B.

The second support layer 125b may also be a flexible film layer, which may have multiple bends, like the first support layer 124a, and the deformation strip 125r is a curved film layer. The thickness 125t of the second support layer 125b is smaller than the thickness 120t of each of the non-curved portions 120b. Taking FIG. 1A as an example, the thickness 125t is the maximum thickness of the second support layer 125b when the flexible display 100 is flattened without bending, that is, the thickness 125t is equivalent to the distance between the bottom end of the deformation bar 125r and the support surface 125s. Since the thickness 125t of the second support layer 125b is smaller than the thickness 120t of the non-bent portion 120b, the second support layer 125b can also form a living hinge.

When the flexible display 100 is bent along the axis A11, the second supporting layer 125b can also be bent. The supporting surface 125s of the second supporting layer 125b contacts the first supporting layer 124a, and the deformed deformed concave rib 124r contacts. The second support layer 125b, but the deformed strip 125r does not contact the curved first support layer 124a. It can be known that when the flexible display 100 is bent, the second supporting layer 125b and the first supporting layer 124a can support the bent portion of the carrying layer 123 and the flexible display panel 110 together to prevent the flexible display panel 110 from being excessively bent. Therefore, the flexible display panel 110 after bending is effectively prevented from being creased or broken.

In the present embodiment, the non-bent portion 120b may have a multilayer structure. Taking FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B as examples, each of the non-curved portions 120b may include a first substrate 121b and a second substrate 122b, where the first substrate 121b is located between the second substrate 122b and the flexible display panel 110, and the first substrate 121b and The second substrates 122b are stacked and connected to each other. For example, the first substrate 121b and the second substrate 122b may be stacked and connected to each other by using glue or screws, but the fixing manner is not limited thereto. In addition, the distance D12 between the second substrates 122b is smaller than the distance D11 between the first substrates 121b, and the second substrates 122b protrude from the side walls of the first substrates 121b facing each other, as shown in FIG. 1A.

The carrier layer 123 and the first support layer 124a are connected between the first substrates 121b, and the second support layer 125b is connected between the second substrates 122b. The first substrate 121b, the carrier layer 123, and the first support layer 124a is integrally formed, and the second substrate 122b and the second support layer 125b are integrally formed. That is, the first substrate 121b, the carrier layer 123, and the first support layer 124a may be made of the same material, and from the appearance, no boundary is shown at the connection between the three. Similarly, the second substrate 122b and the second support layer 125b can also be made of the same material, and from the appearance, the boundary between the second substrate 122b and the second support layer 125b does not appear. In addition, the first substrate 121b, the carrier layer 123, and the first support layer 124a may be formed by the same three-dimensional printing or injection molding, and the second substrate 122b and the second support layer 125b may be formed by another three-dimensional printing or injection. Formed simultaneously.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the first substrate 121 b and the second substrate 122 b are not integrally formed, but in other embodiments, the first substrate 121 b and the second substrate 122 b may be integrally formed. That is, the non-curved portion 120b, the bearing layer 123, the first support layer 124a, and the second support layer 125b are integrally formed in other embodiments, such as the flexible display 200 shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B.

Please refer to FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B. The flexible display 200 is similar to the flexible display 100 in the foregoing embodiment, and both the flexible displays 200 and 100 have the same effect. For example, the flexible display 200 includes a support substrate 220, and the support substrate 220 includes a bendable portion 221 and a non-bendable portion 222. The flexible display 200 and its bendable portion 221 can be bent along the axis A21, and the axis A21 is A dummy reference line may be located at a middle portion of the bendable portion 221. The following mainly describes the different features of the flexible display 200 from the flexible display 100.

Different from the flexible display 100 shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, in the flexible display 200 shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, these non-curved portions 222, the bearing layer 123, the first support layer 124 a and the first The two supporting layers 225b are integrally formed. That is, the non-curved portion 222, the bearing layer 123, the first supporting layer 124a, and the second supporting layer 225b are all made of the same material, and from the appearance, the non-curved portion 222, the bearing layer 123, and the first support The boundary between the layer 124a and the second support layer 225b does not appear. Therefore, the entire supporting substrate 220 can be formed simultaneously by the same three-dimensional printing or injection molding.

A second hollow space H22 is also formed between the second support layer 225b and the first support layer 124a. However, unlike the foregoing embodiment, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, when the flexible display 200 is flattened without being bent, the second support layer 225 b may be a flat film layer that is not bent. As shown in Figure 2A. In other words, the second support layer 225b may not have any deformed strip 125r as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, and the support surface 225s of the second support layer 225b can also contact the first support layer 124a, so that the second support The layer 225b and the first support layer 124a can support the curved portion of the bearing layer 123 and the flexible display panel 110 together, and can also effectively prevent the flexible display panel 110 from being bent or broken after bending.

In addition, it is particularly emphasized that in the above embodiments, the flexible displays 100 and 200 both include the second support layers 125b and 225b, but in other embodiments, the flexible displays 100 and 200 may not include the second support Layers 125b and 225b. In detail, even without the second supporting layers 125b and 225b, the first supporting layer 124a can support the curved portion of both the supporting layer 123 and the flexible display panel 110 to help the flexible display panel 110 not be excessively bent, thereby helping The flexible display panels 110 and 200 are prevented from being damaged after being bent. Therefore, the second support layers 125b and 225b described in the above embodiments are merely examples of the preferred embodiments of the present invention, and it is not limited that the flexible displays 100 and 200 must include the second support layers 125b and 225b.

In summary, when the flexible display in at least one embodiment of the present invention is bent, the contact of the deformed ribs of the first support layer to the carrier layer can support both the carrier layer and the flexible display panel. The bent portion prevents the flexible display panel from being excessively bent, thereby helping to prevent damage to the bent flexible display panel from being creased or broken, thereby improving the quality of the flexible display.

Although the present invention has been disclosed as above by way of examples, it is not intended to limit the present invention. Those with ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention pertains may make some modifications and retouching without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The scope of protection of the invention shall be determined by the scope of the attached patent application.

100, 200‧‧‧ flexible display

110‧‧‧ flexible display panel

120, 220‧‧‧ support substrate

120a, 221‧‧‧ bendable part

120b, 222‧‧‧ non-curved part

120t, 123t, 124t, 125t‧‧‧thickness

121b‧‧‧First substrate

122b‧‧‧Second substrate

123‧‧‧bearing layer

123b‧‧‧ bump

124a‧‧‧First support layer

124p‧‧‧Deformed raised rib

124r‧‧‧deformed concave rib

125s, 225s‧‧‧ support surface

125b, 225b‧‧‧Second support layer

125r‧‧‧ deformation bar

A11, A21‧‧‧ axis

D11, D12‧‧‧ distance

H11‧‧‧First hollow space

H12, H22‧‧‧‧ Second hollow space

S11‧‧‧ outside surface

S12‧‧‧ inside surface

FIG. 1A is a schematic perspective view of a flexible display according to an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 1B is a schematic perspective view of the flexible display in FIG. 1A after being bent. FIG. 2A is a schematic perspective view of a flexible display according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2B is a schematic perspective view of the flexible display in FIG. 2A after bending.

Claims (11)

A flexible display includes: a support substrate including a bendable portion and a pair of non-bendable portions, wherein the bendable portion is connected between the non-bendable portions and is bent along an axis; the bendable portion It includes: a bearing layer connected to the non-curved portions, and having an outer surface and an inner surface opposite to the outer surface, wherein the thickness of the bearing layer is smaller than the thickness of each of the non-curved portions; a first supporting layer, Connected to the non-curved portions, wherein a first hollow space is formed between the first support layer and the inner surface, and the first support layer includes at least one deformed convex rib, wherein the at least one deformed convex rib is along the The axis extends, and the thickness of the first support layer is smaller than the thickness of each of the non-bend portions; and a flexible display panel fixed on the outer surface and covering the bendable portion and the non-bend portions, when the flexible type When the display is curved along the axis, the inner surface forms a curved surface, and the at least one deformation convex rib deforms and contacts the bearing layer. The flexible display according to claim 1, wherein the carrying layer further has at least one projection protruding from the inner surface, and the at least one deformation occurs when the flexible display is bent along the axis. The protruding rib is used to contact the at least one protruding block. The flexible display according to claim 1, wherein the non-curved portions, the bearing layer and the first supporting layer are all integrally formed. The flexible display according to claim 1, wherein the bendable portion further includes a second support layer connected to the non-bend portions, wherein the first support layer is located between the second support layer and the carrier. Between the layers, and the thickness of the second support layer is smaller than the thickness of each of the non-curved portions, a second hollow space is formed between the second support layer and the first support layer, and when the flexible display is along the axis When bent, the second support layer contacts the first support layer. The flexible display according to claim 4, wherein the first supporting layer further includes at least one deformed concave rib, the at least one deformed concave rib extends along the axis, and when the flexible display is along the axis When bending, the at least one deformed concave rib deforms and contacts the second supporting layer. The flexible display according to claim 4, wherein the second supporting layer has a supporting surface and at least one deformed strip, the at least one deformed strip is recessed in the supporting surface, and the at least one deformed strip is along the The axis extends. When the flexible display is bent along the axis, the support surface of the second support layer contacts the first support layer, and the at least one deformation bar does not contact the first support layer. The flexible display according to claim 4, wherein each of the non-curved portions includes: a first substrate, wherein the carrier layer and the first support layer are both connected to the first substrate of the non-curved portions. And a second substrate, wherein the second support layer is connected between the second substrates of the non-curved portions, and the first substrate is located between the second substrate and the flexible display panel. The flexible display according to claim 7, wherein the distance between the second substrates is smaller than the distance between the first substrates, and the second substrates protrude from the first substrates, respectively. Side walls facing each other. The flexible display according to claim 7, wherein the first substrate, the carrier layer and the first support layer are integrally formed. The flexible display according to claim 7, wherein the second substrate and the second support layer are integrally formed. The flexible display according to item 4 of the claim, wherein the non-curved portions, the bearing layer, the first support layer and the second support layer are integrally formed.