Flexible Display Glass Layer Etching for Bendability and Scratch Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Flexible displays in electronic devices face challenges with poor scratch resistance, rigidity, and visibility when using polymer-based window layers, particularly when subjected to pressure from electronic pens.
Innovation Solution
A flexible display design featuring a glass layer with differing etching patterns on opposite surfaces, providing varying etching ratios to enhance flexibility and rigidity, and incorporating a glass layer for improved scratch resistance and visibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a polymer-based window layer is used to provide flexibility, then bendability is improved, but scratch resistance and visibility are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a composite structure consisting of a glass layer and a polymer layer. The glass layer provides scratch resistance and visibility, while the polymer layer provides flexibility and bendability. This composite material approach resolves the contradiction by combining materials with complementary properties rather than relying on a single material to fulfill all requirements.
2Illumination intensity
If a thin-film glass layer is used to improve transmittance, then visibility is improved, but rigidity is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines a thin-film glass layer with a polymer layer to create a composite window structure. The thin-film glass layer maintains high transmittance for visibility, while the polymer layer compensates for the reduced rigidity inherent in thin-film structures. This composite approach allows the system to achieve both optical performance and mechanical strength.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the glass layer is etched to enhance flexibility, then bendability is improved, but scratch resistance is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies etching patterns to specific regions of the glass layer rather than uniformly across the entire surface. By localizing the etching to areas where flexibility is needed while preserving non-etched regions for scratch resistance, the patent resolves the contradiction between these two properties through spatial differentiation of material characteristics.
4Strength
If a thicker glass layer is used to improve rigidity, then scratch resistance is improved, but flexibility is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite structure where a glass layer of optimized thickness is combined with a polymer layer. This allows the system to achieve the rigidity and scratch resistance of glass while the polymer component provides the flexibility that would be difficult to achieve with glass alone, resolving the contradiction between these mechanical properties.
Data Source
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AI summary
According to various embodiments, an electronic device may include: a first housing, a second housing foldably connected to the first housing through a hinge, and a flexible display supported by the first housing and the second housing, the flexible display including a window layer having a first surface and a second surface facing a direction opposite to the first surface, and including a glass layer, and a display panel corresponding to the second surface under the window layer, wherein the glass layer includes a plurality of first patterns on the first surface, a surface of the plurality of first patterns being lower than the first surface, and a plurality of second patterns on the second surface, a surface of the plurality of second patterns being lower than the second surface, and a first etching amount per unit area of the plurality of first patterns and a second etching amount per the unit area of the plurality of second patterns are different.