Preformed Curvilinear Foldable Substrate for Display Stress Relief
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Solution Overview
Problem
Foldable electronic devices with flexible displays face mechanical stress issues when folding, leading to adhesive layer failure due to tight bending radii, which limits the number of folding cycles before mechanical failure occurs.
Innovation Solution
Preforming the foldable substrate into a predefined curvilinear three-dimensional shape minimizes stress loads on the flexible display, allowing it to maintain a neutral, force-free state and reduce mechanical strain during folding, thereby extending the lifespan of the display.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the flexible display is folded with a tight bending radius, then the device achieves a compact folded form factor, but the adhesive layers experience excessive mechanical stress leading to failure
Solution Approach 1:
The substrate is preformed into a curvilinear three-dimensional shape that anticipates the folding geometry, positioning the display in a neutral state before folding occurs. This preliminary shaping reduces the sudden stress冲击 during folding by eliminating the need to bend from a flat state into a tight radius.
Solution Approach 2:
The substrate is given a curvilinear three-dimensional shape with optimized radii of curvature that match the folding geometry. This curvature design allows the display to fold along a larger, more gentle arc rather than a tight radius, reducing mechanical stress on adhesive layers while achieving compact folded dimensions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the display is folded repeatedly, then the device achieves operational flexibility, but the mechanical stress causes adhesive layer failure after limited cycles
Solution Approach 1:
The substrate is preformed into the folded configuration before use, establishing a neutral, force-free state that eliminates cumulative stress during folding cycles. This preliminary action ensures that repeated folding operations do not progressively degrade the adhesive layers, extending display lifespan.
Solution Approach 2:
The substrate's physical shape is changed from a flat two-dimensional form to a preformed curvilinear three-dimensional shape with optimized curvature radii. This parameter change in the substrate geometry fundamentally alters the stress distribution during folding, enabling thousands of cycles without adhesive failure.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the substrate is made more flexible to enable folding, then the device achieves foldability, but the mechanical stress during folding increases adhesive layer failure risk
Solution Approach 1:
The substrate is formed with a curvilinear three-dimensional shape that incorporates optimized radii of curvature matching the folding geometry. This curvature design enables the flexible substrate to fold smoothly while distributing mechanical stress evenly, preventing concentration of stress at sharp bends that would compromise adhesive layers.
Solution Approach 2:
The substrate is preformed into the folded shape, establishing a neutral state where no additional stress is required during folding operations. This preliminary action eliminates the harmful stress that would otherwise be imposed on adhesive layers during each folding cycle.
Data Source
AI summary
A flexible display includes a foldable display coupled to a foldable substrate. The foldable substrate is preformed to maintain a curvilinear three-dimensional shape when in a neutral, force-free state. The curvilinear three-dimensional shape can simulate one or more contours of an electronic device housing to which the flexible display is attached, thereby reducing or minimizing stress loads on the flexible display as the electronic device housing transitions between an axially displaced open position and a closed position.