Cover Module Without Base Layer for Flexible Displays

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional display devices with base layers face limitations in flexibility and durability, particularly when bent, folded, or rolled, due to the inherent properties of the base materials, which can lead to breakage and reduced surface hardness.

Innovation Solution

A cover module is designed without a base layer, featuring an adhesive layer and a coating layer with a release agent, providing high surface hardness and flexibility, allowing for enhanced durability and reliability during bending, folding, and rolling, and incorporating a polarizing plate for improved optical characteristics.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a base layer is included in the cover module, then structural support is provided, but flexibility and reliability deteriorate when bent, folded, or rolled

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurface hardnessVSAvoiddurability under mechanical stress

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the base layer from the cover module structure, retaining only the coating layer directly on the display panel. This extraction eliminates the fundamental cause of breakage while maintaining surface hardness through the optimized coating layer composition containing release agents.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The coating layer is formulated as a composite material incorporating release agents within its matrix. This composite structure provides both the required surface hardness and the flexibility needed to withstand bending, folding, and rolling without breakage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Strength

If a base layer is used to provide structural support, then surface hardness is maintained, but flexibility deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurface hardnessVSAvoidflexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the coating layer by incorporating release agents, which modify the material properties to achieve both high surface hardness and exceptional flexibility. This allows the cover module to adapt to various mechanical deformations while maintaining structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Strength

If multiple material components are used in the cover module, then structural requirements are met, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurface hardnessVSAvoidmaterial components

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates the base layer from the multi-material structure, simplifying the cover module to essentially two main components: the display panel and the coating layer. This reduction in material components directly decreases device complexity while maintaining all necessary structural functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS20240224722A1Cover module and display device including the same

Publication Date: 2024.07.04 LG DISPLAY CO LTD

AI summary

Aspects of the disclosure relate to a cover module and a display device including the same. Specifically, a display device comprises a display panel and a cover module disposed on the display panel. The cover module includes an adhesive layer disposed on the display panel and a coating layer. The coating layer is disposed on an outermost part of the display device and a surface hardness of the display device is identical to a hardness of the coating layer. Thus, a cover module having excellent flexibility and high surface hardness and a display device including the cover module is disclosed.