Flexible Circuit Protector for LCD Assembly Damage Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
In LCD devices, the flexible substrate and driver chip are prone to damage during assembly due to contact with the hard outer casing, especially when bezel sizes are minimized, leading to defects such as broken traces and chip damage.
Innovation Solution
A protector made of a material with less scratch hardness than the casing is fixed to the casing's internal surface, protruding from its edge to prevent direct contact between the flexible substrate and the casing, thereby protecting the components during assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the bezel size is minimized to achieve a thinner device profile, then the device thickness is reduced, but the flexible substrate or driver chip may contact the outside casing during assembly causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
A protective cover made of soft material (scratch hardness less than the outside casing) is introduced as an intermediary element between the flexible substrate/driver chip and the hard outside casing. This mediator prevents direct contact and potential damage while allowing the bezel to be minimized for a thinner device profile.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective cover is positioned in advance on the inner surface of the outside casing before assembly operations. The soft material provides pre-positioned cushioning that absorbs impact and prevents damage to the flexible substrate and driver chip during subsequent assembly steps.
2Reliability
If a protective cover is added to prevent damage to flexible components, then component protection is improved, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The protective cover is made from a thin film or flexible material with scratch hardness less than the outside casing. This thin protective layer provides adequate protection against damage while adding minimal structural complexity and maintaining device simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
A device includes a module, a flexible unit fixed on a fixing part of which relative position to a position of the module is variable, a casing covering the module and the flexible unit, and a protector which is made of material having less scratch hardness than material of the casing. The protector has a fixing part, a protruding part and a protecting part. The fixing part, which is a part of a first surface of the protector, is fixed on the casing. The protruding part, which is a part of the protector, protrudes from an edge of the casing. The protecting part, which is a part of a second surface behind the first surface excluding the protruding part, contacts with the flexible unit.