Patterned Elastic Member for Foldable Display Stress Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Flexible or foldable display devices face issues with cracks and deterioration due to stress concentration during folding and unfolding, leading to reduced folding reliability and potential plastic deformation.
Innovation Solution
An elastic member with a first region for folding and a second region for unfolding, featuring a first pattern portion with an intaglio shape and a second pattern portion with embossed shapes, which distribute stress and prevent concentration, improving tensile and elastic properties by forming multiple layers with different physical properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a metal substrate is used for the display substrate, then tensile strength and supporting force are provided, but stress concentration occurs in the folding region leading to cracks and reduced folding reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic member is divided into multiple layers (first elastic member layer, second elastic member layer) with different materials and properties. This segmentation allows each layer to contribute different functions: the first layer provides tensile strength while the second layer provides elasticity and stress distribution, thereby preventing stress concentration and improving folding reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by combining different elastic member materials in a multi-layer structure. The first elastic member layer and second elastic member layer have different mechanical properties that complement each other, creating a composite structure that simultaneously achieves high tensile strength and high folding reliability through stress distribution
2Ease of operation
If the elastic member is folded repeatedly, then the display can be carried conveniently, but stress concentration in specific regions causes plastic deformation and cracks
Solution Approach 1:
The multi-layer structure segments the stress distribution across different layers during folding. Each layer absorbs and distributes stress differently, preventing stress concentration in specific regions and avoiding plastic deformation even during repeated folding operations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the elastic member by using materials with different elastic moduli and mechanical properties in each layer. This parameter differentiation allows the structure to handle folding stresses more effectively, maintaining structural integrity while enabling repeated folding for portability
Data Source
AI summary
An elastic member according to an embodiment includes a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface and a first region and a second region, wherein a first direction in a length direction and a second direction in a width direction are defined, the first region is defined as a folding region, and the second region is defined as an unfolding region, a first pattern portion having an intaglio shape and a second pattern portion having an embossed shape are formed in the first region, the second pattern portion includes a plurality of first patterns and a plurality of second patterns that are spaced apart from each other, and a length of the first pattern extends in a second direction, and a length of the second pattern extends in the first direction.