Flexible support, method for manufacturing same, and display device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12213262-B2
Application number	US-202117535964-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 26, 2021
Priority date	Mar 26, 2021
Publication date	Jan 28, 2025
Grant date	Jan 28, 2025

Abstract

Provided is a flexible support. The flexible support includes two first flexible support plates and one second flexible support plate. The second flexible support plate includes a first foldable region extending along a first direction, wherein the first foldable region includes a first side edge and a second side edge extending along the first direction; one of the two first flexible support plates is disposed on a side, distal from the second side edge, of the first side edge, the other of the two first flexible support plates is disposed on a side, distal from the first side edge of the second side edge, and the two first flexible support plates are respectively connected to two opposite side edges of the second flexible support plate. A material density of the first flexible support plate is less than a material density of the second flexible support plate.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A flexible support, wherein the flexible support is configured to support a foldable display panel, and the flexible support comprises two first flexible support plates and one second flexible support plate; wherein
the second flexible support plate comprises a first foldable region extending along a first direction, wherein the first foldable region comprises a first side edge and a second side edge extending along the first direction;
one of the two first flexible support plates is disposed on a side, distal from the second side edge, of the first side edge, the other of the two first flexible support plates is disposed on a side, distal from the first side edge, of the second side edge, and the two first flexible support plates are respectively connected to two opposite side edges of the second flexible support plate; and
a material density of the first flexible support plate is less than a material density of the second flexible support plate,
wherein a side edge, connected to the second flexible support plate, of the first flexible support plate is provided with a first connection structure, and the two opposite side edges, connected to the first flexible support plate, of the second flexible support plate are each provided with a second connection structure, wherein the first connection structure and the second connection structure are engaged with each other;
the first connection structure comprises a plurality of first connection protrusions arranged along the first direction, wherein a first gap is present between any adjacent two of the plurality of first connection protrusions, and a maximum width of the first connection protrusion is greater than a width of an end, distal from the second flexible support plate, of the first connection protrusion;
the second connection structure comprises a plurality of second connection protrusions arranged along the first direction, wherein a second gap is present between any adjacent two of the plurality of second connection protrusions;
a shape of the second connection protrusion matches a shape of the first gap, and the second connection protrusion and the first gap are in one-to-one correspondence; a shape of the second gap matches a shape of the first connection protrusion, and the second gap and the first connection protrusion are in one-to-one correspondence; and
the second connection protrusion is disposed within a corresponding first gap, and the first connection protrusion is disposed within a corresponding second gap, and
the shape of the first connection protrusion and the shape of the second connection protrusion are both drops.

2. The flexible support according to claim 1 , wherein
a ratio of the width to the maximum width ranges from ⅓ to ½; and
a ratio of the maximum width to a length of the first connection protrusion ranges from 3/10 to ½.

3. The flexible support according to claim 1 , wherein the second flexible support plate further comprises a foldable plate and a connection plate; wherein
the first foldable region is disposed on the foldable plate; and
the connection plate is connected to the foldable plate and the second connection structure, and a ratio of a width of the connection plate to a length of the second connection protrusion ranges from ⅕ to ⅓.

4. The flexible support according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible support further comprises a third flexible support plate; wherein
the two first flexible support plates are laminated on the third flexible support plate, the third flexible support plate and the two first flexible support plates form a groove structure, and the second flexible support plate is disposed within the groove structure.

5. The flexible support according to claim 4 , wherein the flexible support further comprises: a first adhesive layer disposed between the third flexible support plate and the second flexible support plate.

6. The flexible support according to claim 1 , wherein a surface, opposite to the foldable display panel, of the first flexible support plate is provided with a hardened layer.

7. The flexible support according to claim 1 , wherein a side, distal from the second flexible support plate, of at least one of the first flexible support plates is provided with a first bending structure.

8. The flexible support according to claim 7 , wherein in response to the flexible support being bent, two side edges, distal from the second flexible support plate, of the first bending structure are opposite to each other.

9. The flexible support according to claim 1 , wherein
the first flexible support plate is made of at least one of polymer clay, polyester resin, polyimide, flexible polyurethane; and
the second flexible support plate is made of at least one of stainless steel, aluminum alloy, and titanium alloy.

10. The flexible support according to claim 1 , wherein the second flexible support plate comprises a hollow in the first foldable region.

11. The flexible support according to claim 10 , wherein the hollow is a waist-shaped hole.

12. The flexible support according to claim 1 , wherein in response to the maximum width of the first connection protrusion being greater than the width of the end, distal from the second flexible support plate, of the first connection protrusion, a pulling force present between the first connection protrusion and the second connection protrusion in a folding process of the flexible support is insufficient to separate the first flexible support plate from the second flexible support plate, and the first connection structure and the second connection structure are still engaged with each other.

13. A method for manufacturing a flexible support, comprising:
providing two first flexible support plates;
providing a second flexible support plate, wherein the second flexible support plate comprises a first foldable region extending along a first direction, the first foldable region comprising a first side edge and a second side edge extending along the first direction, a material density of the first flexible support plate being less than a material density of the second flexible support plate;
connecting the two first flexible support plates to two opposite side edges of the second flexible support plate respectively, such that one of the two first flexible support plates is disposed on a side, distal from the second side edge, of the first side edge, and the other of the two first flexible support plates is disposed on a side, distal from the first side edge, of the second side edge,
wherein a side edge, connected to the second flexible support plate, of the first flexible support plate is provided with a first connection structure, and the two opposite side edges, connected to the first flexible support plate, of the second flexible support plate are each provided with a second connection structure, wherein the first connection structure and the second connection structure are engaged with each other;
the first connection structure comprises a plurality of first connection protrusions arranged along the first direction, wherein a first gap is present between any adjacent two of the plurality of first connection protrusions, and a maximum width of the first connection protrusion is greater than a width of an end, distal from the second flexible support plate, of the first connection protrusion;
the second connection structure comprises a plurality of second connection protrusions arranged along the first direction, wherein a second gap is present between any adjacent two of the plurality of second connection protrusions;
a shape of the second connection protrusion matches a shape of the f

Assignees

• Chengdu Boe Optoelect Tech Co
• Boe Technology Group Co Ltd

Inventors

• Feng Binfeng
• Li Fei
• Xiao Bowen

Classifications

• H10K2102/311

  Flexible OLED · CPC title

• H10K77/111

  Flexible substrates · CPC title

• H05K5/0017

  with operator interface units · CPC title

• B32B2457/20

  Displays, e.g. liquid crystal displays, plasma displays · CPC title

• B32B2307/72

  Density · CPC title