Flexible Display Data Line Connection Across Folded Edges
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Solution Overview
Problem
Flexible display devices with folded edges face challenges in maintaining image display quality when folded, as data lines can become disconnected, leading to gaps in the display area and potential cracking during bending.
Innovation Solution
The display device incorporates a substrate with edge portions and a connection line system that electrically reconnects data lines across concave portions, ensuring continuous image display even when folded, and prevents cracking by positioning folding lines to avoid overlapping with bending areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the display panel is folded to enable flexible display, then the adaptability and portability are improved, but the data lines become disconnected at concave portions causing display gaps and potential cracking
Solution Approach 1:
Connection lines are introduced as intermediary elements to bridge the gaps in data lines caused by concave portions. These connection lines extend from the first data line across the concave portion to connect to the second data line, ensuring continuous electrical connectivity while allowing the panel to be folded.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection lines extend in a third direction (depth/thickness dimension) to bridge the gap created by the concave portion. This vertical extension allows the data lines to maintain electrical connectivity while accommodating the horizontal folding deformation.
2Reliability
If connection lines are added to reconnect data lines, then the electrical connectivity is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connection lines are merged with the existing data line structures rather than being completely separate components. The connection lines extend from the ends of the first data line and connect to the second data line, integrating seamlessly into the existing conductor architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
By extending connection lines in the third direction (vertical dimension) rather than adding horizontal routing complexity, the solution achieves connectivity without significantly increasing planar device complexity. The connection lines utilize the vertical space created by the folded structure.
3Adaptability or versatility
If folding lines are positioned to enable folding, then the flexibility is improved, but cracking may occur during bending
Solution Approach 1:
The substrate is segmented into flat portions and concave portions, with folding lines specifically positioned at the boundaries. This segmentation allows controlled folding at designated locations while maintaining structural integrity in the concave portions where cracking is most likely to occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The concave portions are designed with specific local geometry (recessed regions) that concentrates stress away from the folding lines. This local structural modification enhances crack resistance at critical bending locations while maintaining overall flexibility.
Data Source
AI summary
A display device includes a substrate including a main portion, a first edge portion protruding from the main portion in a first direction, and a second edge portion protruding from the main portion in the first direction and spaced apart from the first edge portion in the first direction, a first data line disposed on the main portion and extending in a second direction intersecting the first direction, a second data line including a first portion disposed on the first edge portion and extending in the second direction, and a second portion disposed on the second edge portion and extending in the second direction, and a connection line electrically connecting the first portion of the second data line and the second portion of the second data line to each other. The first data line and the second data line, and the connection line are disposed on different layers.