Collapsible Display Non-Deformable Areas Driver Mounting

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing electronic apparatus with collapsible displays faces challenges in mounting display drivers due to the poor compatibility between rigid electronic components and non-rigid flexible substrates, leading to increased electrical resistance and vulnerability to mechanical damage.

Innovation Solution

The solution involves using non-deformable areas on the flexible display for mounting electronic components, such as drivers, and employing interconnecting elements like harness-like structures or patterned interconnect layers to ensure robust electrical connections, while also using deformable regions for folding and unfolding, and providing mechanical support to reduce stress on the display.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If display drivers are mounted on flexible display modules, then the display can be made collapsible and compact, but the mounting becomes difficult due to poor compatibility between rigid components and non-rigid substrates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecollapsibility of displayVSAvoidmounting of display drivers
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces non-deformable areas (rigid regions) within the flexible display substrate specifically designed to mount electronic components. These localized rigid zones provide stable mounting surfaces for display drivers while the rest of the substrate remains flexible for collapsing. This resolves the contradiction by creating local quality differentiation - rigid where needed for component mounting, flexible elsewhere for collapsibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The display substrate is segmented into distinct functional zones: deformable areas for flexibility and non-deformable areas for component mounting. This segmentation allows the flexible display to be divided into regions with different mechanical properties, enabling both collapsibility and stable component attachment simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of manufacture

If the tail edge is kept flat for mounting drivers, then component mounting is simplified, but the interconnect density increases making robust interconnect structure difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemounting of driversVSAvoidrobustness of interconnect structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from one-dimensional edge mounting (tail edge) to two-dimensional area mounting by utilizing non-deformable areas distributed across the flexible substrate. This dimensional expansion allows drivers to be positioned in multiple locations rather than constrained to a single edge, reducing interconnect density and improving structural robustness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Adaptability or versatility

If interconnecting tracks are made longer to reach drivers from distant positions, then mounting flexibility increases, but electrical resistance increases and vulnerability to mechanical damage increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemounting flexibilityVSAvoidelectrical resistance and mechanical vulnerability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

By creating localized non-deformable areas at strategic positions across the flexible substrate, the patent enables short interconnect tracks between drivers and their target locations. This local quality approach ensures that electrical connections remain short and robust while maintaining overall mounting flexibility through the distributed arrangement of rigid zones.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP2741168B1Electronic apparatus comprising collapsible display with non-deformable active areas
Publication Date: 2019.09.25 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP2741168B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1c
  • EP2741168B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2741168B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to an electronic apparatus comprising a collapsible, flexible electronic display conceived to be extendable, said flexible display comprising a substantially deformable area and a substantially non-deformable area in use; and electronic components for enabling electrical connectivity for the electronic display, wherein the electronic components are arranged on the substantially non- deformable area, and wherein the flexible display is arranged on a member having substantially flat surfaces for supporting the substantially non-deformable area of the electronic display.