Flexible display screen supporting structure, method for manufacturing the same, and display device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12016143-B2
Application number	US-202117760962-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 15, 2021
Priority date	May 26, 2020
Publication date	Jun 18, 2024
Grant date	Jun 18, 2024

Abstract

This application relates to a flexible display screen supporting structure for supporting a flexible display screen. The flexible display screen includes a bendable region and a non-bendable region spaced apart in a first direction. The flexible display screen supporting structure includes a flexible support layer, the flexible support layer includes a first surface and a second surface arranged opposite to each other, the first surface is used for connecting to a non-light-emitting side of the flexible display screen, and the second surface is divided into a first region and a second region that are spaced apart in the first direction. A rigid support plate is arranged on the first region, a plurality of rigid support strips that are parallel to each other are arranged at intervals on the second region, and each of the plurality of the rigid support strips extends along a direction perpendicular to the first direction.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A flexible display screen supporting structure, configured to support a flexible display screen, wherein the flexible display screen comprises a bendable region and a non-bendable region that are spaced apart in a first direction,
wherein the flexible display screen supporting structure comprises a flexible support layer, the flexible support layer comprises a first surface and a second surface arranged opposite to each other, the first surface is used for connecting to a non-light-emitting side of the flexible display screen, and the second surface is divided into a first region and a second region that are spaced apart in the first direction;
a rigid support plate is arranged on the first region, a plurality of rigid support strips that are parallel to each other are arranged at intervals on the second region, and each of the plurality of the rigid support strips extends along a direction perpendicular to the first direction;
an orthographic projection of the first region onto the flexible display screen overlaps the non-bendable region, and an orthographic projection of the second region onto the flexible display screen overlaps the bendable region, when the flexible support layer is connected to the non-light-emitting side of the flexible display screen; and
the flexible support layer further comprises a flexible strip-shaped protrusion protruding between two adjacent rigid support strips;
wherein the flexible display screen supporting structure further comprises a protective frame capable of surrounding a periphery of the flexible display screen, wherein the rigid support plate comprises an edge connection member exposed at the first region of the flexible support layer, and the protective frame is connected to the edge connection member;
wherein the protective frame is made of a flexible material.

2. The flexible display screen supporting structure according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible strip-shaped protrusion and the flexible support layer are of an integral structure.

3. The flexible display screen supporting structure according to claim 2 , wherein the flexible strip-shaped protrusion and the flexible support layer are made of rubber or silica gel.

4. The flexible display screen supporting structure according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible strip-shaped protrusion is recessed in a direction close to the first surface to form a strip-shaped groove, and an extension direction of the strip-shaped groove is the same as an extension direction of the flexible strip-shaped protrusion.

5. The flexible display screen supporting structure according to claim 1 , wherein a thickness of the rigid support plate in a direction perpendicular to the flexible support layer is the same as a thickness of the rigid support strip in the direction perpendicular to the flexible support layer, and the thickness of the rigid support plate in the direction perpendicular to the flexible support layer ranges from 0.3 mm to 0.5 mm.

6. The flexible display screen supporting structure according to claim 1 , wherein a spacing between two adjacent rigid support strips ranges from 0.6 mm to 1.2 mm.

7. The flexible display screen supporting structure according to claim 1 , wherein a width of each of the rigid support strips in a second direction ranges from 1.0 mm to 1.5 mm, and the second direction is parallel to the second surface and perpendicular to an extension direction of the rigid support strip.

8. The flexible display screen supporting structure according to claim 1 , wherein the rigid support plate and the rigid support strips are made of metal.

9. The flexible display screen supporting structure according to claim 1 , wherein the light-emitting side of the flexible display screen is provided with a cover plate, and the cover plate comprises a central region covering the flexible display screen and a peripheral area exposed to the flexible display screen,
wherein, in a direction perpendicular to the rigid support plate, the protective frame comprises a first portion arranged at a periphery of the cover plate and a second portion located at the periphery of the flexible display screen, and the first portion and the second portion form a step structure that is connected to a peripheral region of the cover plate.

10. The flexible display screen supporting structure according to claim 9 , wherein the edge connection member comprises a plurality of through holes, and the protective frame further comprises a third portion insertable into the through holes.

11. The flexible display screen supporting structure according to claim 1 , wherein the protective frame comprises a first connecting portion connected to the rigid support plate, and a second connecting portion connected to the rigid support strips,
wherein the first connecting portion is connected to the edge connection member, and the second connecting portion comprises two shielding portions extending away from the flexible support layer and shielding both ends of each of the rigid support strips.

12. A display device, comprising a flexible display screen and the flexible display screen supporting structure according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible support layer is connected to the non-light-emitting side of the flexible display screen, the orthographic projection of the first region of the flexible support layer onto the flexible display screen overlaps the non-bendable region of the flexible display screen, and the orthographic projection of the second region of the flexible support layer onto the flexible display screen overlaps the bendable region of the flexible display screen.

13. The method of assembling the display device according to claim 12 , wherein the display device comprises a housing, a flexible display screen, the flexible display screen supporting structure, and a rotating shaft structure and a hardware structure mounted in the housing and configured to control bending of the flexible display screen, and the method comprises:
assembling the rotating shaft structure in the housing;
assembling the hardware structure in the housing;
assembling the flexible display screen with the flexible display screen supporting structure; and
assembling the assembled flexible display screen and the flexible display screen supporting structure into the housing.

14. A method for manufacturing the flexible display screen supporting structure according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible display screen supporting structure further comprises a protective frame capable of surrounding a periphery of the flexible display screen, the rigid support plate comprises an edge connection member exposed at the first region of the flexible support layer, and the protective frame is connected to the edge connection member,
wherein the manufacturing method comprises:
forming the flexible support layer by an injection molding process, and connecting the flexible support layer, the rigid support plate, and the rigid support strips into one body; and
forming a protective frame by using a metal material with the injection molding process, and connecting the protective frame to the edge connection member of the rigid support plate.

Assignees

• Boe Technology Group Co Ltd

Inventors

• Sun Baofeng

Classifications

• G06F1/203

  for portable computers, e.g. for laptops · CPC title

• G06F1/1641

  the display being formed by a plurality of foldable display components (G06F1/1647 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G06F1/1637

  Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing · CPC title

• G02F1/133322

  Mechanical guidance or alignment of LCD panel support components · CPC title

• G02F1/133305

  Flexible substrates, e.g. plastics, organic film · CPC title