Flexible Display Bent-Edge Fastening for Narrow-Bezel Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Rigid displays in electronic devices have significant inactive border areas, making them bulky and requiring wide bezels, while flexible displays with bent edges can detach or exert force on components due to their tendency to return to a flat shape.
Innovation Solution
A flexible display is mounted to a rigid support structure with bent edges fastened using a mounting structure, secured between the support and the mandrel, utilizing materials like aluminum, copper, or plastic, and fastened with screws, clips, or adhesive.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If rigid display structures are used, then display stability is improved, but device bulkiness increases due to wide inactive borders
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs flexible display structures that replace traditional rigid panels. The flexible substrate allows the display to be bent and conform to device contours, eliminating the need for wide rigid borders and reducing overall device bulkiness while maintaining structural integrity through the flexible mounting structure.
2Volume of moving object
If flexible display edges are bent away from the plane, then inactive border width is reduced, but the bent edges tend to return to flat shape causing separation or excessive force
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary counteracting forces through the flexible mounting structure that continuously exerts restraining force on the bent edges. This preliminary anti-action prevents the edges from returning to their original flat position, eliminating the harmful separation or excessive force issues while maintaining the reduced border width configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible mounting structure serves as an intermediary between the bent display edges and the rigid device housing. This intermediary component absorbs and manages the elastic recovery forces of the bent edges, preventing direct contact that would cause separation or excessive force on other components.
3Ease of manufacture
If wide inactive borders are used, then display circuitry accommodation is improved, but device aesthetics deteriorate due to visible bezels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent moves the inactive border region from a two-dimensional planar configuration to a three-dimensional bent configuration. By bending the edges away from the front plane, the inactive borders are hidden from view, dramatically improving device aesthetics while still providing sufficient space for circuitry accommodation in the bent regions.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device may be provided with a display having a flexible substrate with fastened bent edges. The flexible substrate may have an active region that includes an array of light-emitting elements such as organic light-emitting diodes. The flexible substrate may also have inactive regions that lie outside of the active region. The bent edges may include portions of the inactive regions and portions of the active region. The bent edges may be wrapped to conform to the shape of an internal support structure. The bent edges may be fastened to the support structure with fastening members that attach a housing member or an internal clamp to the support structure. The bent edges may be secured between the housing member or the internal clamp and the support structure. The fastening members may be engaged in openings in the support structure and may pass through or alongside the bent edges.