Flexible Display With Curved Cover Layer Concealing Corner Gaps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic devices with displays often have unsatisfactory appearances and usability issues due to bulky and unattractive displays that do not accommodate desired device shapes.
Innovation Solution
The electronic device features a flexible display layer with strip-shaped protrusions along its edges, covered by a protective display cover layer with a cushion shape and curved surfaces, which helps to conceal gaps at the corners and provide a more aesthetically pleasing and usable form factor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If a traditional flat display structure is used, then the display is simple to manufacture, but the appearance is bulky and unattractive
Solution Approach 1:
The display structure employs curved edges and rounded corners instead of sharp angles, creating a cushion-shaped display cover layer that wraps around the display layer. This curvature provides an attractive appearance while maintaining manufacturability through standard curving processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The display structure nests multiple layers within each other: the display layer is covered by a protective display cover layer, with housing structures overlapping gaps at corners. This nested arrangement creates a compact, attractive form factor without significantly increasing manufacturing complexity.
2Area of stationary object
If the display edges are extended to maximize display area, then the display area is increased, but gaps at corners become more visible
Solution Approach 1:
The display cover layer features rounded corners with compound curvature that visually conceal gaps at the corners. The curved surfaces redirect light and perspective, making gaps less noticeable while maintaining maximum display area.
Solution Approach 2:
Housing structures are positioned to overlap and mediate the gaps formed at corners of the central region. These housing structures, formed from opaque material, act as intermediaries that block the corners from view while allowing the display area to extend maximally.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the display layer is made rigid for structural stability, then the display is stable, but it cannot accommodate flexible device shapes
Solution Approach 1:
The display layer utilizes a flexible substrate that can be bent and shaped to accommodate various device form factors. The flexible display layer maintains structural integrity through its material properties while enabling adaptive device shapes.
Solution Approach 2:
The display structure employs curved surfaces and rounded corners that naturally distribute stress, allowing the flexible display to maintain stability while being bent or shaped. The curvature provides structural reinforcement without requiring rigid materials.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device may be provided with a display. The display may have a flexible display layer covered by a protective display cover layer. The flexible display layer may be an organic light-emitting diode display layer or other layer with a flexible substrate. The flexible display layer may have a central region with peripheral edges. The central region may be rectangular, may be octagonal, or may have other shapes. Strip-shaped protrusions may extend along each of the peripheral edges of the central region. The strip-shaped protrusions may be bent to provide the protrusions with curved surface profiles. The display cover layer may have a cushion shape with bowed edges that overlap parts of the strip-shaped protrusions, may have curved inner and outer surfaces and/or planar surfaces, may have rounded corners with compound curvature, may have edges with curved surface profiles, and/or may have other configurations.