Patent Application
20230244278
The present disclosure relates to the technical field of electronic products, and in particular to a display module and a display device.
At present, with the development of display technology, electronic devices on the market and exhibition have folding forms which basically includes two-folding form (inward-folding form, outward-folding form), three-folding form (two-inward-folding form, two-outward-folding form, inward-and-outward-folding form) and other forms. In the form of a folding screen, a screen size can be switched according to the needs. In a using state, a large screen can be obtained by unfolding a bending portion for easy watching, and in a non-using state, the large screen can be folded to facilitate portability. However, this kind of folding screen is prone to a crease at a folding position, so that it may affect the display effect of the display screen.
Therefore, there is an urgent need for a new module solution that can change the screen size.
Embodiments of the present application provide a display module and a display device, which can change a visible area of the display panel by sliding and moving.
In a first aspect, the embodiments of the present application provide a display module including: a display panel including a display surface and a non-display surface arranged opposite to each other; a support layer arranged on the non-display surface of the display panel, the support layer having a first surface away from the display panel, and at least part of the first surface is provided with at least one first shape portion arranged in a predetermined direction; and a rotating shaft, an outer circumference of the rotating shaft provided with at least one second shape portion, the support layer and the display panel arranged around an outer circumference of the rotating shaft, the first shape portion of the first surface engaged with the second shape portion of the rotating shaft. The display panel includes a part in a first state and a part in a second state, and the rotating shaft is enabled to rotate to drive the first shape portion and the second shape portion engaged with each other to move relative to each other to drive the support layer to rotate, such that a part of the display panel can be switched between the first state and the second state.
In another aspect, the embodiments of the present application provide a display device. The display device includes the display module as described above.
The present application provides the display module and the display device. The display module includes the display panel, the support layer and the rotating shaft. The rotating shaft has the second shape portion in a circumferential direction. The display panel includes the display surface and the non-display surface arranged opposite to each other. The support layer is arranged on the non-display surface of the display panel. The support layer has the first surface away from the display panel. At least part of the first surface is provided with the shape portion arranged in the predetermined direction. The support layer and the display panel are arranged around the outer circumference of the rotating shaft. The first shape portion of the first surface engaged with the second shape portion of the rotating shaft. The display panel includes the part in the first state and the part in the second state. According to the first shape portion and the second shape portion engaged with each other, when the rotating shaft rotates, the rotating shaft can drive the first shape portion and the second shape portion engaged with each other to move relative to each other to drive the support layer to rotate, such that a part of the display panel can be switched between the first state and the second state. During the process of controlling the part in the first state in the display panel, since the support layer is arranged, it can provide a support force to the display panel arranged around the rotating shaft, so as to avoid the display panel from being easily wrinkled and deformed during repeated use. In addition, the display panel is facilitated to slide by providing the first shape portion and the second shape portion engaged with each other on the support layer; at the same time, an engaging position is on the support layer, so that it can prevent the force generated by the rotating shaft from directly acting on the bending portion of the display panel during the movement; therefore, the stress concentration of the display panel at the position can be reduced, the display panel can be prevented from being damaged, and the performance of the display module can be improved.
It should be noted that, in this text, the relational terms, such as first, second and the like, are only used to distinguish one entity or operation from another entity or operation, and do not necessarily require or imply that there is a relationship or order between these entities or operations. In addition, the term “comprise”, “include” or any other variation thereof are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, so that the process, method, article, or apparatus including a set of elements includes not only those elements, but also other elements not explicitly listed, or includes elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus. Without further limitations, an element defined by the expression “comprising . . . ” does not exclude the presence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article or device that includes the element.
In order to better understand the present application, a display module and a display device in embodiments of the present application will be described in detail below with reference to
Referring to
In a specifical embodiment, at least part of the first surface can be provided with a plurality of first shape portions arranged in the predetermined direction; the outer circumference of the rotating shaft can be provided with at least one second shape portion. For the first shape portion 22 and the second shape portion 31 respectively arranged on the first surface 21 and the rotating shaft 3 to be engaged with each other, the plurality of first shape portions 22 may be a plurality of racks arranged in a predetermined direction. A recess can be formed between two adjacent racks. A plurality of second shape portions 31 may be a plurality of gears arranged on an outer wall of the rotating shaft 3 in a circumferential direction. The plurality of gears and the rotating shaft 3 are integrally formed to form a gear shaft. At least part of the gears can partially extend into a recessed position between the racks, so that the gears can mesh with the racks. The display panel 1 can be divided into the part in the first state S1 and the part in the second state S2 by the gear shaft. The gear shaft can drive the support layer 2 to rotate, so that a part of the display panel 1 can be switched between the first state S1 and the second state S2. The first shape portions 22 and the second shape portions 31 can also be arranged in the form of a protrusion and a recess engaged with each other to realize the rotating shaft 3 driving the support layer 2 to rotate, which is not specifically limited here.
The embodiments of the present application provide the display module. During the process of controlling the area of the part in the first state S1 in the display panel 1 to increase or decrease, since the support layer 2 can be arranged, it can provide a support force to the display panel arranged around the rotating shaft 3, so as to avoid the display panel 1 from being easily wrinkled and deformed during repeated use. In addition, the display panel 1 can be facilitated to slide by providing the first shape portion 22 and the second shape portion 31 engaged with each other on the support layer 2; at the same time, an engaging position of the first shape portion 22 and the second shape portion 31 is located between the support layer 2 and the rotating shaft 3, so that it can prevent the force generated by the rotating shaft 3 during rotating from directly acting on a portion of the display panel 1 correspondingly arranged around rotating shaft 3; therefore, the stress concentration of the display panel 1 at the position corresponding to the rotating shaft 3 can be reduced, the display panel 1 can be prevented from being damaged, the usage performance of the display panel 1 can be improved, and the display panel can be not easy to be damaged.
The support layer 2 and the display panel 1 are arranged around the rotating shaft 3 and engaged with each other. There may be one or more rotating shafts 3.
Referring to
Referring to
Optionally, when there are more than two rotating shafts 3 and at least one side of the support layer 2 in the first direction L is arranged around the rotating shaft 3, it is also possible that at least one side of the support layer 2 in a second direction W is arranged around the rotating shaft 3. Not only are the plurality of first shape portions 22 arranged in the first direction L, but also the plurality of first shape portions 22 are also arranged in the second direction W. The first direction L crosses with the second direction W. Thus, the rotating shaft 3 in different directions and at different positions can be adjusted according to requirements. By the engagement of the first shape portions 22 and the second shape portions 31 at corresponding positions, when the rotating shaft 3 is rotated, the rotating shaft can drive the area of the part in the first state S1 in the display panel 1 to increase or decrease.
The arrangement of the plurality of first shape portions 22 in the predetermined direction on the first surface 21 can be determined according to the number, arrangement, and position to be adjusted of the second shape portions 31 which are arranged.
Referring to
In some optional embodiments, the support layer 2 arranged on the non-display surface 11 of the display panel 1 may be a structure with the deformation ability and a certain strength, such as a steel plate. Thus, the support force can be provided for the flexible display panel 1, so as to avoid local wrinkles of the display panel 1 easily caused when the area of the part in the first state S1 in the display panel 1 is adjusted. At the same time, the plurality of first shape portions 22 engaged with the plurality of second shape portions 31 can be arranged on the support layer 2, and a rotating force of the rotating shaft 3 can act on the support layer 2 to avoid the direct damage to the display panel 1.
Optionally, referring to
Referring to
Optionally, the racks and the support layer 2 can be integrally formed to improve the strength of the connection.
In order to prevent the provided first through holes 23 from affecting the engagement between the racks and the support layer 2, the meshing between the racks and the gear shaft and the attaching and fixing strength of the attaching region D2, the plurality of first through holes 23 are uniformly arranged in the engaging region D1, and the first through holes 23 are arranged at the positions not to interfere with the racks. For example, each of the first through holes 23 may be located in a recess formed between two adjacent racks, or each of the first through holes 23 may also be located in a position where the plurality of racks are not arranged in the engaging region D1.
In a specifical embodiment, the plurality of first shape portions 22 may also be directly configured as the plurality of second through holes arranged in the engaging region D1. For example, the plurality of second through hole are arrayed and arranged in the engaging region D1, and the plurality of second shape portions 31 are arranged as a plurality of protrusions arranged in the circumferential direction of the rotating shaft 3. In order to achieve engaging with the second through holes arranged in an array, the plurality of protrusions are arranged in a dot matrix on the outer surface of the rotating shaft 3 in the circumferential direction, so that different protrusions can be driven to engage with the corresponding second through holes during the rotation of the rotating shaft 3, and it can realize driving the movement of the support layer 2 and the display panel 1 through engagement between the protrusions and the second through holes. At the same time, by arranging the second through holes in the support layer 2, the deformation ability of the support layer 2 itself can be improved, and the sufficient support force can be provided to support the display panel 1, thereby improving the usage stability of the display panel 1.
Hereinafter, the structure of the display module will be described in detail by taking an example that the support layer 2 can be arranged around the rotating shaft 3 at one side of the first direction L when only one rotating shaft 3 is provided.
Referring to
Optionally, a position of the first frame 6 and the second frame 5 corresponding to the part in the second state S2 in the display panel 1 may also be provided with a second window D5. At least the part of in the second state S2 in the display panel 1 can be partially visible through the second window D5, so that there is a part of the display panel 1 that can be visible in different directions according to requirements, so that it can improve the usage performance.
It should be noted that there are many options for how the second frame 6 and the first frame 5 can approach or move away from each other. For example, in some embodiments, a guide rail and a slider engaged with each other can be arranged in the second frame 6 and the first frame 5 respectively. When the second frame 6 is driven by an external force, the second frame 6 can be moved in the first direction L to approach or move away from the first frame 5, so that a size of an area of the first window D4 enclosed by the second frame and the first frame can be adjusted.
When the display panel 1, the support layer 2 and the rotating shaft 3 are mount in the first frame 5 and the second frame 6, the first frame 5 includes a first edge frame 51 extending parallel to the rotating shaft 3, the second frame 6 includes a second edge frame 61 extending parallel to the rotating shaft 3, and the rotating shaft 3 can be arranged at at least one of the first edge frame 51 and the second edge frame 61.
In some optional embodiments, the second frame 6 can approach or move away from the first frame 5 in the first direction L. The attaching region D2 can be located at one side of the support layer 2 in the first direction L and used for attaching and fixing to the first frame 5, and the other side of the support layer can be arranged around the rotating shaft 3. The attaching region D2 in the support layer 2 can be fixedly connected to the first frame 5, the rotating shaft 3 can be located at a position corresponding to the second edge frame 61, and the rotating shaft 3 can be rotatably connected to the second frame 6. By operating the second frame 6 to approach or move away from the first frame 5, the rotating shaft 3 can also move approach or move away from the first frame 5 in the first direction L with the second frame 6. In addition, during the movement of the rotating shaft 3 sliding and moving in the first direction L, the rotating shaft 3 can rotate, so that the second shape portions 31 on the rotating shaft can act on the first shape portions 22 in the support layer 2 engaged with the second shape portion by the rotating force, so as to realize the engagement of different first shape portions 22 and second shape portions 31; while the area of the first window D4 can be changed, the area of the part in the first state S1 in the display panel 1 can also be changed accordingly, so as to avoid local wrinkles of the display panel 1.
Optionally, referring to
In some other optional embodiments, the display module further includes: a distance-detecting device 7 arranged on at least one of the first frame 5 and the second frame 6 and configured to obtain a distance information between the first frame 5 and the second frame 6; a driving device 4 connected to the rotating shaft 3 and configured to drive the rotating shaft 3 to rotate; and a controller electrically connected with the distance-detecting device 7 and the driving device 4, in which the controller can control the driving device 4 to rotate according to the distance information. Whether the second frame 6 slips and moves relative to the first frame 5 can be detected by the distance-detecting device 7, and the detecting information can be fed back to the controller, so that the controller can control whether the driving device 4 works or not according to the feedback information, so as to realize controlling the rotating shaft 3 to rotate or stop rotating, and realize automatically adjusting the area of the part in the first state S1 in the display panel to increase or decrease.
Optionally, the distance-detecting device 7 includes a first detecting portion 71 and a second detecting portion 72. The first detecting portion 71 can be arranged at the first frame 5, and the second detecting portion 72 can be arranged at the second frame 6. The first detecting portion 71 and the second detecting portion 72 can be arranged opposite to each other in an axial direction perpendicular to the rotating shaft 3.
Optionally, the driving device 4 may be a motor. An output shaft of the motor can be coaxially fixedly connected to one side of the rotating shaft 3. The rotating shaft 3 can be driven to rotate around its own axis by the motor starting.
The display module includes a moving state, a suspending state and a tension state. In the moving state, the second frame 6 and the first frame 5 can approach to or move away from each other. The rotating shaft 3 can drive the support layer 2 to rotate, such that a part of the display panel 1 is switched between the first state S1 and the second state S2. In the suspending state, a distance between the second frame 6 and the first frame 5 remains unchanged, and the rotating shaft 3 suspend rotating. When the moving state is switched to the suspending state, the distance between the second frame 6 and the first frame 5 can be maintained at the suspending state, and the rotating shaft 3 drives the support layer 2 to rotate at a predetermined angle to tension a part in the first state S1 in the display panel 1, so that the display module is in the tension state.
It can be understood that a state in which the second frame 6 is located closest to the first frame 5 (referring to
Optionally, when entering the tensioned state, the predetermined angle at which the rotating shaft 3 can drive the support layer 2 to rotate may be 1 degree to 3 degrees. The purpose is to provide the unfolding force to the display panel 1. The predetermined angle can be related to factors such as the actual flexibility of the display panel 1 itself, and is not specifically limited here.
The embodiments of the present application further provide a display device. The display device may be a mobile phone, a tablet computer or other electronic devices with a display function. The display device includes the display module. The display module may be the display module described in any one of the above embodiments, so that the area of the unfolding part of the screen can increase or decrease as required through the display module provided.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 202110130722.9 | Jan 2020 | CN | national |
The present application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/CN2021/126918, filed on Oct. 28, 2021, which claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202110130722.9, filed on Jan. 29, 2021, titled “DISPLAY MODULE AND DISPLAY DEVICE”, both of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | PCT/CN2021/126918 | Oct 2021 | US |
| Child | 18297284 | US |
