Flexible Printed Circuit Board Routing in Display Panel Opening

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Solution Overview

Problem

Flexible printed circuit boards (FPCBs) in display devices, particularly OLED displays, face issues with unintended separation due to tension caused by 180-degree bending, leading to potential damage and reliability concerns.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) that is bent at an angle less than 90 degrees through an opening in the display panel, reducing tension and minimizing the risk of separation, while also allowing for a slimmer profile and protection from external interference.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the FPCB is bent at 180 degrees to connect the display panel to the driver, then the connection is achieved, but tension is applied to the FPCB causing unintended separation

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveFPCB connection reliabilityVSAvoidtension on FPCB

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The FPCB is bent at an angle less than 90 degrees instead of 180 degrees, creating a gentler curvature that reduces tensile stress on the board while still achieving the necessary connection between the display panel and driver. This curved path configuration minimizes the force applied to the FPCB structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Force

If the FPCB is bent at a smaller angle, then tension is reduced, but the space required for the bend increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetension on FPCBVSAvoidspace for FPCB bend

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The FPCB routing utilizes three-dimensional space by passing through an opening in the display panel, allowing the bend to occur in a different spatial dimension. This enables a less than 90 degree bend angle to be achieved without proportionally increasing the planar footprint, as the bend utilizes the depth dimension created by the opening structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Ease of operation

If the FPCB is exposed externally for connection, then accessibility is improved, but vulnerability to external interference increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveFPCB accessibilityVSAvoidexternal interference

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The FPCB is routed through an opening that is integrated within the display panel structure, nesting the connection path inside the overall device housing. This provides physical protection against external interference while maintaining connection functionality, as the FPCB passes through a protected aperture rather than being fully exposed on the exterior surface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentUS9064834B2Display device including display panel having opening for flexible printed circuit board

Publication Date: 2015.06.23 SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO LTD

AI summary

A display device includes a display panel including a display area to display an image, and a non-display area adjacent to the display area and having an opening; a driver on a rear of the display panel; and a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) connecting the non-display area to the driver through the opening, and is bent at an angle less than 90 degrees from the non-display area to the driver.