Display Panel Protective Layer with Variable Thickness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing display devices face challenges in minimizing the radius of curvature of bending areas, leading to increased dead space and thickness in flexible and foldable displays.
Innovation Solution
A display device design featuring a display panel with a first area parallel to a plane and a second area that extends from the first area in a bent state, incorporating a panel protective layer with a thickness that decreases from the end of the third part toward the second part, reducing the distance between the first and third parts and minimizing the radius of curvature.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the display panel uses a uniform thickness protective layer, then the structural strength is maintained, but the radius of curvature of the bending area increases
Solution Approach 1:
The protective layer is designed with non-uniform thickness, where the thickness varies along the bending direction. Specifically, the protective layer has greater thickness at regions farther from the bending area and reduced thickness near the bending area, allowing the bending region to achieve a smaller radius of curvature while maintaining adequate protection in other areas.
2Shape
If the protective layer thickness is reduced uniformly, then the radius of curvature decreases, but the structural strength and protection capability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of uniformly reducing the protective layer thickness, the invention applies local quality by making the thickness distribution non-uniform. The protective layer maintains sufficient thickness in areas that do not require bending, while having reduced thickness only in the bending area, thus achieving small radius of curvature without compromising overall structural strength.
3Shape
If the bending area width is increased, then the radius of curvature can be minimized, but the dead space and overall device thickness increase
Solution Approach 1:
The protective layer is designed as a flexible structure with varying thickness that can accommodate bending without requiring a large bending area. By optimizing the thickness distribution, the invention enables the display panel to achieve a small radius of curvature within a compact bending area, minimizing dead space while maintaining flexibility.
Data Source
AI summary
A display device includes a display panel and a panel protective layer. The display panel has a first area and a second area. The first area is parallel to a plane including a first direction crossing a second direction. The second area extends from the first area and includes: a first part adjacent to the first area in the second direction, a second part extending from the first part and in a bent state, and a third part extending from the second part and disposed below the first part. The panel protective layer is between the first part and the third part. A distance between the first part and the third part decreases from an end of the third part toward the second part along the second direction.