Auxiliary Spacer Structure for Foldable Display Impact Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Flexible display devices, particularly organic light emitting display devices, face issues with impact resistance and folding reliability due to external impacts causing cracks in touch electrodes and dents during folding.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of shock-proof pattern units on the protective layer to overlap metal lines in the touch sensor layer, enhancing impact resistance and foldability by minimizing cracks and dents.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If the flexible display device is made thin and flexible to enable folding, then flexibility and elasticity are improved, but impact resistance deteriorates causing cracks in touch electrodes and dents during folding
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a cushioning layer positioned between the touch sensor layer and the flexible substrate. This cushioning layer acts as a protective buffer that absorbs impact forces before they reach the fragile touch electrodes and wiring lines, preventing cracks and dents during folding and external impacts while maintaining the device's flexibility
Solution Approach 2:
The cushioning layer serves as an intermediary element between the rigid touch sensor layer and the flexible substrate. It mediates the mechanical stress by providing a compliant interface that allows flexibility while protecting against impact, thus resolving the contradiction between flexibility and impact resistance
2Device complexity
If the device structure is simplified to reduce complexity, then manufacturing ease is improved, but impact resistance deteriorates due to lack of protective structures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a thin film cushioning layer that provides protective functionality without adding significant structural complexity. This thin film approach maintains manufacturing simplicity while effectively absorbing impact forces, thus improving impact resistance without substantially increasing device complexity
Data Source
AI summary
A flexible display device can include a display area in which a plurality of sub pixels is disposed and a non-display area which encloses the display area, The flexible display device further includes a flexible substrate, a thin film transistor disposed on the flexible substrate, an interlayer insulating layer disposed on the flexible substrate, an organic light emitting diode disposed on the thin film transistor, an encapsulation layer disposed on the organic light emitting diode, a touch buffer layer disposed on the encapsulation layer, a touch sensor layer which is disposed on the encapsulation layer and includes a plurality of touch electrodes, a dam disposed on the flexible substrate corresponding to the non-display area, and an auxiliary spacer disposed along an edge of the non-display area.