Flexible Display Supporting Frame for Uniform Touch and Plane State

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Solution Overview

Problem

Flexible display apparatuses with hinge structures face issues such as gaps between housings leading to inconsistent touch sensations and difficulty in maintaining the bending area in a plane state when unfolded, affecting user experience and display stability.

Innovation Solution

A supporting frame for flexible displays comprising a bending member and supporting members that connect to the bending member, ensuring uniform touch sensations across the display area and maintaining the bending area in a plane state by guiding the flexible display panel's curvature and providing structural support without adhesives, using materials like rubber, silicon, or polyurethane.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a hinge structure is used to enable folding, then the flexible display can be folded and unfolded, but gaps between housings cause inconsistent touch sensations and difficulty in maintaining the bending area in a plane state

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefolding capabilityVSAvoidtouch sensation consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A supporting frame is introduced as an intermediary component between the flexible display panel and the housing. This supporting frame includes a bending member that contacts the bending area of the flexible display panel and multiple supporting members that contact non-bending display areas, serving as a mediator to maintain proper spacing and prevent gaps between housing parts while ensuring uniform touch sensations across the display surface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If a hinge structure is used to enable folding, then the flexible display can be folded and unfolded, but gaps between housings cause difficulty in maintaining the bending area in a plane state when unfolded

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefolding capabilityVSAvoidplane state maintenance

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The supporting frame acts as a mediator structure that maintains the bending area in a plane state when unfolded. The bending member and supporting members work together to provide structural support and spacing, preventing the bending area from warping or deviating from its intended plane configuration during the unfolded state.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The bending member is designed with flexible material properties (rubber, silicon, or polyurethane) that allow it to conform to the bending area while maintaining structural integrity. This flexible component can adapt to the curved shape during folding while ensuring the bending area returns to a proper plane state when unfolded, without requiring rigid structures that would prevent folding motion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Ease of manufacture

If traditional housing structures are used, then assembly is simple, but gaps between housings cause inconsistent touch sensations and poor plane state maintenance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly simplicityVSAvoidtouch sensation consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The supporting frame is divided into multiple independent components: a bending member and multiple supporting members. This segmentation allows each component to be separately manufactured and positioned, making assembly straightforward while ensuring precise placement for maintaining uniform touch sensations and proper plane state of the bending area.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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

The solution enhances user touch experiences by minimizing differences in touch sensations and maintains the bending area in a plane state during unfolding, ensuring stability and smooth curvature of the flexible display panel, while allowing for easy assembly and transfer.

Implementation Method 1

a bending member (11) supporting a bendable area (BDA) of the flexible display panel (100) and configured to be bent

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

a plurality of supporting members (13, 15) supporting non-bendable display areas (DA1, DA2) of the flexible display panel (100)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRigidity:

Implementation Method 3

Each supporting member (13, 15) connects to a plurality of connecting surfaces of the bending member (11)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical Force: Mechanical Force

Data Source

PatentUS10921856B2Supporting frame for flexible display and flexible display apparatus comprising the same

Publication Date: 2021.02.16 LG DISPLAY CO LTD

AI summary

A supporting frame for a flexible display panel includes a bending member and a plurality of supporting members. The bending member supports a bendable area of the flexible display panel and is configured to be bent. The plurality of supporting members support non-bendable display areas of the flexible display panel, and each connect to a plurality of connecting surfaces of the bending member.