Flexible Cover Plate Hardened Layer Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current flexible display devices are prone to breakage when bent at small radii and struggle to return to a flat state after dynamic or static bending, affecting their reliability and comfort.
Innovation Solution
A cover plate with a hardened layer comprising alternating layers of flexible and rigid materials in the bending zone and a rigid layer in the non-bending zone, along with an ink blocking layer, to enhance flexibility and durability, and a method for preparing this cover plate using evaporation and screen printing processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a rigid hardened layer is used to provide strength and protection, then the durability and protection of the display device is improved, but the flexibility and ability to return to flat state after bending deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The hardened layer is segmented into multiple sub-layers with different material properties. The first hardened layer portion (in bending zone) contains multiple sub-layers including flexible hardened material sub-layers and rigid hardened material sub-layers, while the second hardened layer portion (in non-bending zone) uses only rigid hardened material. This segmentation allows the structure to provide both flexibility where needed and rigidity where required.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the hardened layer are assigned different material compositions based on local requirements. The bending zone receives the flexible hardened material to enable bending and recovery, while the non-bending zone receives the rigid hardened material for maximum protection. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between overall flexibility and local durability.
2Ease of manufacture
If a single uniform hardened layer is used to simplify manufacturing, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the ability to prevent breakage at small bending radii deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The hardened layer uses composite materials combining flexible hardened material and rigid hardened material in specific proportions and layering patterns. This composite structure enables the layer to resist breakage at small bending radii while maintaining manufacturability through established material composition techniques.
3Reliability
If the flexible hardened material is made softer to improve flexibility, then the ability to bend at small radii is improved, but the hardness and protection capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges flexible hardened material and rigid hardened material into a single integrated hardened layer structure. The flexible component provides bending capability while the rigid component maintains hardness and protection, and their combination resolves the contradiction between softness for flexibility and hardness for protection.
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
The solution improves the flexibility and reliability of flexible display devices by preventing breakage at small bending radii and facilitating easy restoration to a flat state, while maintaining robustness and protecting the display device.
Implementation Method 1
a method for preparing this cover plate using evaporation and screen printing processes
Data Source
AI summary
A cover plate, a method for preparing the same, a display panel, and a display device are provided. The cover plate has a bending zone and a non-bending zone, and the cover plate includes: a substrate layer and a hardened layer attached to the substrate layer, in which the hardened layer includes a first hardened layer portion located in the bending zone, the first hardened layer portion including a mixture of a flexible hardened material and a rigid hardened material.