Expandable Display Support Structure for Flatness and Sliding Durability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Flexible display devices with expandable surfaces face issues of visible bending due to lower structural support, affecting surface quality and requiring complex structures.

Innovation Solution

A display device design featuring a display module with distinct regions supported by layers of varying adhesive materials and hole groups, including optically clear resin and pressure-sensitive adhesive layers, to enhance rigidity and minimize visible bending.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a lower structure supports the display panel in expandable flexible display devices, then the display panel can be folded and expanded, but bending becomes visible on the display surface

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefoldable and expandable functionVSAvoiddisplay surface flatness
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The support structure is segmented into multiple discrete support bars arranged in arrays, rather than a continuous lower structure. This segmentation allows the display panel to fold between the bars while maintaining surface flatness in the unfolded state, resolving the contradiction between foldability and surface flatness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the display device have different structural properties - the display area has a segmented support structure for flatness, while the non-display areas have different support characteristics. This local differentiation allows the display surface to remain flat while enabling folding functionality in appropriate regions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Adaptability or versatility

If a complex structure is used to support the display panel for folding, then folding functionality is achieved, but the structure becomes complicated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesliding operation capabilityVSAvoidsupport structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The support structure is divided into multiple simple support bars rather than one complex continuous structure. Each bar is independent and simple in form, but collectively they provide the required sliding and folding functionality, reducing overall structural complexity while maintaining adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The segmented support bar structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides mechanical support for the display panel, enables folding operations, facilitates sliding movements, and maintains surface flatness. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, simplifying the overall structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4654800A1Display device and manufacturing method thereof
Publication Date: 2025.11.26 SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO LTD
  • EP4654800A1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP4654800A1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP4654800A1 patent drawingFigure 2A

AI summary

A display device includes a display module including first, second, and third regions sequentially arranged in a first direction, a first support layer that includes hole groups spaced apart from each other in the first direction and is disposed under the display module overlapping the first region, a first adhesive layer disposed between the first region and the first support layer, a second support layer disposed under the display module overlapping the second region, a second adhesive layer disposed between the second region and the second support layer, and multi-bars disposed at under of the first support layer and spaced apart from each other in the first direction. The first adhesive layer includes at least one first resin layer, and second resin layers overlapping a corresponding hole group and having a higher modulus than the first resin layer.