Flexible Display Bezel Reduction via Bottom Bending and Curved Support

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing display devices with flexible circuit boards have a wide bezel due to the bending of the flexible circuit board around the side surface of the display panel, increasing the bezel width and potentially degrading the display quality with air bubbles and wrinkles.

Innovation Solution

A method of manufacturing a display device with a reduced bezel width involves a first substrate with a display part, a bending part, and a pad part, where a back film is adhered to the display and pad parts on the bottom of the first substrate, and a supporting member with a rounded side guides the bending part, forming a separation space to prevent wrinkles and air bubbles.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a flexible circuit board is bent around the side surface of the display panel, then the display panel can be assembled with the driver, but the bezel width increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly capabilityVSAvoidbezel width

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent moves the bending part and pad part to the bottom surface of the display panel instead of the side surface. This dimensional change allows the flexible circuit board to be bent and connected without increasing the bezel width, as the bending occurs in a different spatial dimension (bottom rather than side).

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a rounded supporting member at the bottom of the display panel that guides the bending part to form a curved shape. This curvature design allows the flexible circuit board to bend smoothly around the rounded surface, preventing wrinkles and air bubbles while maintaining a compact bezel width.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Length of stationary object

If the flexible circuit board is bent tightly to reduce bezel width, then the bezel width decreases, but air bubbles and wrinkles may form degrading display quality

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebezel widthVSAvoiddisplay quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of stationary objectVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The rounded supporting member provides a smooth curved surface with an optimized radius that guides the bending part. This curvature is designed to match the flexibility of the circuit board, allowing tight bending for reduced bezel width while preventing the formation of wrinkles and air bubbles that would degrade display quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent optimizes the radius of curvature of the rounded supporting member to achieve the right balance. By carefully selecting this geometric parameter, the bending can be tight enough to reduce bezel width but smooth enough to prevent defects in the display quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Strength

If additional adhesives and stiffeners are used to support the bending part, then the structural integrity improves, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidmanufacturing process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The rounded supporting member acts as an intermediary structure that provides mechanical support and guidance for the bending part. Instead of using multiple separate components like adhesives and stiffeners, this single intermediate structure performs both support and guidance functions, simplifying the manufacturing process while maintaining structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The rounded supporting member serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support, guides the bending path, prevents wrinkles and air bubbles, and maintains the reduced bezel width. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate adhesives and stiffeners, reducing manufacturing complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach reduces the bezel width, enhances display quality by preventing air bubbles and wrinkles, and simplifies the manufacturing process by eliminating the need for additional adhesives and stiffeners, while naturally guiding the bending part to avoid circuit damage.

Implementation Method 1

a back film, and adhering the back film to a portion corresponding to the display part and the pad part on a bottom of the first substrate

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Implementation Method 2

a supporting member with a rounded side guides the bending part, forming a separation space to prevent wrinkles and air bubbles

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGeometric constraint: Geometry

Data Source

PatentUS11304294B2Display device

Publication Date: 2022.04.12 LG DISPLAY CO LTD

AI summary

A display device includes a flexible first substrate including a display part, a bending part provided at one side of the display part, and a pad part provided at an end of the bending part, wherein the display part includes a plurality of pixels; a second substrate facing the display part; a back film including a first film part and a second film part separated from the first film part, wherein the first film part is adhered to the display part of the flexible first substrate, and the second film part is adhered to the pad part; and a supporting member disposed between the first film part and a second film part.