Angled Signal Lines for Flexible Substrate Flexibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flexible display substrates face flexibility limitations due to the breakage of gate lines when flexed beyond a certain degree, and using higher tensile metals increases the device cost.
Innovation Solution
The array substrate features signal transmission lines, including data and gate lines, that are angled between 30° to 60° relative to the flexible substrate edge, with varying lengths and cross-sectional areas to reduce flexure stress, and a driving module is placed in a peripheral inflexible region to enhance protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If signal transmission lines are arranged perpendicular to the flexible substrate edge, then the layout is simple and manufacturing is easy, but the gate lines break when flexed beyond a certain degree
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by arranging signal transmission lines at non-perpendicular angles (specifically 45 degrees) relative to the flexible substrate edge, rather than using the conventional perpendicular arrangement. This asymmetric angular orientation reduces the flexure stress concentration on gate lines during substrate bending, preventing line breakage while maintaining manufacturing feasibility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the angular parameter of signal transmission line arrangement from 90 degrees (perpendicular) to 45 degrees (oblique). This parameter modification fundamentally alters the stress distribution pattern during flexing, reducing the tensile stress on gate lines to below their breaking threshold while preserving electrical connectivity and manufacturing processability
2Strength
If metal with higher tensile property is used to improve gate line flexibility, then the gate lines can withstand higher flexing degree, but the device cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of changing the material parameter (using higher-tensile metal), the patent changes the geometric parameter (line arrangement angle) to achieve the same functional outcome. By orienting lines at 45 degrees, the effective tensile stress on gate lines is reduced to manageable levels, allowing standard metal materials to be used without increasing device cost
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces a material-based solution (increasing metal tensile strength) with a geometry-based solution (optimizing line arrangement angle). This substitution eliminates the need for expensive high-tensile metals by using geometric configuration to reduce stress, thereby maintaining cost-effectiveness while achieving the desired flexibility and reliability
Data Source
AI summary
An array substrate provided by an embodiment of the present invention may include a flexible substrate and an array layer formed on the flexible substrate. The array layer may includes signal transmission lines, which include a plurality of data lines and a plurality of gate lines intersected with each other on the flexible substrate to form a plurality of sub-pixel regions; and thin film transistors, each of which is provided in a corresponding sub-pixel region of the plurality of sub-pixel regions and connected to a corresponding data line and a corresponding gate line. An angle between at least a portion of the signal transmission lines and any one edge of the flexible substrate may not be substantially equal to 90°.