Foldable Display Support Plate Lattice for Impact-Resistant Hinges

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Solution Overview

Problem

Flexible display devices are prone to damage from external impacts due to their folding areas having flexible characteristics, necessitating improved impact resistance.

Innovation Solution

A display device design incorporating a support plate with specific openings in its folding part, featuring varying lengths and depths in different directions, and varying widths that gradually decrease, enhancing structural integrity and impact resistance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the folding area is made flexible to enable folding operations, then the adaptability and portability are improved, but the impact resistance and durability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefolding capabilityVSAvoidimpact resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The support plate is designed with non-uniform opening structures: the first openings have different sizes, shapes, or orientations than the second openings. This creates local variations in mechanical properties across the folding area, providing enhanced impact resistance in specific regions while maintaining overall flexibility for folding operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The support plate is divided into multiple regions with different opening patterns - a first region with first openings and a second region with second openings. This segmentation allows different parts of the folding area to have different mechanical characteristics, balancing flexibility and impact resistance across the structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If openings are added to the support plate to maintain flexibility, then the ease of operation is improved, but the structural strength deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefolding operationVSAvoidstructural integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

Different regions of the support plate have different opening characteristics - the first openings in the first region provide flexibility for folding operations, while the second openings in the second region are designed to maintain structural strength and prevent excessive deformation during use.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The first openings and second openings are designed with asymmetric characteristics - they differ in size, shape, orientation, or distribution patterns. This asymmetry allows the support plate to exhibit different mechanical behaviors in different directions and regions, optimizing both flexibility and strength.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Data Source

PatentEP4679226A1Support plate having plate lattice, display device including the same, and manufacturing method thereof
Publication Date: 2026.01.14 SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO LTD
  • EP4679226A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4679226A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4679226A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Disclosed is a display device which includes a display module including a non-folding area and a folding area arranged in a first direction and a support plate including a folding part that overlaps the folding area. An opening extending in a second direction crossing the first direction is defined in the folding part, and the opening includes a first opening defined in a lower surface of the folding part and a second opening defined above the first opening. In the second direction, a first length of the first opening and a second length of the second opening are different from each other.