Electronic devices with flexible display cover layers
An electronic device may have a hinge that allows the device to be flexed about a bend axis. A display may span the bend axis. To facilitate bending about the bend axis without damage, the display may include a display cover layer with a flexible portion. The flexible portion of the display cover layer may be interposed between first and second rigid portions of the display cover layer. The display cover layer may also include a layer with self-healing properties. The layer of self-healing material may be formed across the entire display cover layer or may be formed only in the flexible region of the display cover layer. The display cover layer may include a layer of elastomer in the flexible region of the display cover layer for increased flexibility. Self-healing may be initiated or expedited by externally applied heat, light, electric current, or other type of external stimulus.
1. An electronic device, comprising:
a housing; and
a flexible display in the housing having a bending region that bends about a bend axis, wherein the flexible display includes display layers configured to emit light and a display cover layer, wherein the display cover layer covers the display layers, and wherein the display cover layer comprises:
a first transparent dielectric layer having a plurality of slits in the bending region; and
a second transparent dielectric layer that covers the first transparent dielectric layer, wherein the first transparent dielectric layer and the second transparent dielectric layer are attached by a plurality of welds.
2. The electronic device defined in claim 1 , further comprising:
an index-matching layer that fills the plurality of slits.
3. The electronic device defined in claim 2 , wherein a first portion of the index-matching layer fills the plurality of slits and wherein the index-matching layer has a second portion that is interposed between the first transparent dielectric layer and the display layers.
4. The electronic device defined in claim 3 , wherein the first portion of the index-matching layer comprises a first material, wherein the second portion of the index-matching layer comprises a second material, and wherein the first material is different from the second material.
5. The electronic device defined in claim 3 , wherein the first portion of the index-matching layer and the second portion of the index-matching layer comprise a material.
6. The electronic device defined in claim 3 , wherein the first portion of the index-matching layer has a first index of refraction, wherein the first transparent dielectric layer has a second index of refraction, and wherein the first index of refraction is within 10% of the second index of refraction.
7. The electronic device defined in claim 2 , wherein the first transparent dielectric layer has a first Young's modulus, wherein the second transparent dielectric layer has a second Young's modulus, wherein the index-matching layer has a third Young's modulus, and wherein the third Young's modulus is less than the first Young's modulus and the second Young's modulus.
8. The electronic device defined in claim 1 , wherein the display cover layer further comprises:
a third transparent dielectric layer that has an opening that is overlapped by the plurality of slits.
9. The electronic device defined in claim 8 , wherein the first transparent dielectric layer has a first thickness, wherein the second transparent dielectric layer has a second thickness, wherein the third transparent dielectric layer has a third thickness, and wherein the second thickness is less than the first thickness and the third thickness.
10. The electronic device defined in claim 8 , further comprising:
an index-matching layer having a first portion that fills the plurality of slits and a second portion that fills the opening.
11. The electronic device defined in claim 1 , wherein the first transparent dielectric layer has a first thickness, wherein the second transparent dielectric layer has a second thickness, and wherein the first thickness is greater than the second thickness.
12. The electronic device defined in claim 1 , further comprising:
a self-healing polymer layer that is formed over the second transparent dielectric layer.
13. The electronic device defined in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of slits extends only partially through the first transparent dielectric layer.
14. The electronic device defined in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of slits extends entirely through the first transparent dielectric layer.
15. An electronic device, comprising:
a housing; and
a flexible display in the housing having a bending region that bends about a bend axis, wherein the flexible display includes display layers configured to emit light and a display cover layer, wherein the display cover layer covers the display layers, and wherein the display cover layer comprises:
a first transparent dielectric layer having a plurality of slits in the bending region;
a second transparent dielectric layer that covers the first transparent dielectric layer; and
a third transparent dielectric layer that has an opening that is overlapped by the plurality of slits.
16. The electronic device defined in claim 15 , further comprising:
an adhesive layer that is interposed between the first transparent dielectric layer and the second transparent dielectric layer.
17. The electronic device defined in claim 15 , wherein the first transparent dielectric layer and the second transparent dielectric layer are attached by a plurality of welds.
18. The electronic device defined in claim 15 , further comprising:
an index-matching layer having a first portion that fills the plurality of slits and a second portion that fills the opening.