Bent Display Edge Formation Using Heated Structures
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electronic device displays often have large inactive border regions that contribute to their bulkiness, making them undesirable in terms of size and aesthetics.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a flexible display layer, such as an organic light-emitting-diode layer with a polymer substrate, which is heated and bent to form edges that can be mounted within or over a device housing, minimizing the width of inactive border regions by using heated structures and computer-controlled positioners to shape the display.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a conventional rectangular display with inactive border region is used, then the display structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the inactive border region becomes large and causes the device to be bulky
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature by bending the edges of the display away from the plane of the active region. The display edges are formed with a radius of curvature to create a bent configuration that wraps around the inactive border region, effectively hiding it and reducing the overall device volume while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through controlled forming processes
2Volume of moving object
If the inactive border region is reduced in size, then the device becomes more compact, but the display edges become difficult to form and mount
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes physical parameters by heating the display to elevated temperatures during the bending process. This temperature parameter change makes the display material more pliable and easier to form into bent edges, while the heating is localized only to the regions requiring bending, preserving the integrity of the active display region
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-heating the display and support structure before attempting to bend the edges. This preliminary heating softens the materials, making subsequent bending operations easier and more controllable, and allows for proper adhesion to the housing structure before final positioning
3Shape
If heated structures are used to bend the display edges, then the display can be shaped to minimize inactive regions, but additional equipment and process steps are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functions into a single integrated process by combining heating and bending operations. The bending equipment incorporates heated structures that simultaneously provide thermal energy and mechanical forming force, eliminating the need for separate heating and bending steps and reducing overall process complexity
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach allows for the reduction of inactive border regions, enhancing the compactness and aesthetic appeal of electronic devices by creating bent edges that can be seamlessly integrated into the device housing, thereby minimizing the overall size and appearance of the display.
Implementation Method 1
Bending and heating equipment may simultaneously heat the display layer and the flexible support layer to form a bent edge portion for the display
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device may have a display with a bent portion such as one or more bent edge portions. The display may be formed from a flexible display layer such as an organic light-emitting-diode layer. The organic light-emitting-diode layer may include a substrate layer such as a sheet of polymer. The flexible display may be attached to a support structure such as a flexible support layer using adhesive. To facilitate bending, the display may be heated. Bending and heating equipment may simultaneously heat the display layer and the flexible support layer to form a bent edge portion for the display. The bending and heating equipment may include heated structures for pressing the display layer into a desired shape.