Grid-Filled Flexible Display Structure for Impact-Resistant Folding

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Display devices are prone to deformation and damage from external impacts, especially when folded, bent, or rolled, reducing their lifespan and convenience.

Innovation Solution

A display device design featuring a substrate with a grid structure defined by grooves filled with an organic insulating material, enhancing stretchability and reducing impact transmission.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If a rigid structure is used for the display device, then manufacturing precision and structural stability are improved, but vulnerability to external impact and deformation increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidvulnerability to external impact

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies a grid structure consisting of grooves filled with organic insulating material, creating a flexible yet protective framework. This grid structure allows the display device to bend and deform under external impact without breaking, while still providing structural support and protecting internal components. The organic insulating material in the grooves maintains electrical isolation while accommodating mechanical deformation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines different materials with complementary properties: the substrate, circuit layer, and element layer are integrated with a grid structure filled with organic insulating material. This composite structure merges the mechanical strength of the substrate with the flexibility and impact-absorbing properties of the organic insulating material, creating a system that is both structurally stable and resistant to external impact.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Adaptability or versatility

If the display device is made foldable or bendable, then adaptability and convenience are improved, but vulnerability to external impact and bending stress increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovefoldabilityVSAvoidresistance to bending stress

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The grid structure with grooves filled with organic insulating material provides a flexible framework that enables the display device to be folded or bent repeatedly without damage. The organic insulating material accommodates the mechanical stress of folding while maintaining electrical isolation between conductive elements, ensuring reliability during flexible operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a dynamic structure where the grid and organic insulating material can flex and deform in response to bending forces. This dynamic design allows the display device to adapt to folding and bending operations, distributing mechanical stress throughout the structure rather than concentrating it at fixed points, thereby improving reliability during flexible use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If a grid structure with organic insulating material is introduced, then stretchability and impact resistance are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovestretchabilityVSAvoidstructural complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the insulating structure into a grid pattern with grooves filled with organic insulating material. This segmentation creates multiple small, flexible units that can independently deform under stress, providing stretchability and impact resistance. The segmented grid structure is simpler than a monolithic flexible structure while achieving the same functional benefits.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The grid structure creates a porous framework with grooves filled with organic insulating material. This porous design provides pathways for mechanical deformation while maintaining electrical isolation, enabling stretchability without requiring complex flexible circuit designs. The porous structure naturally accommodates expansion and contraction during bending and folding operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

Data Source

PatentUS12557488B2Display device

Publication Date: 2026.02.17 SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO LTD

AI summary

A display device includes a substrate including a display area including emission areas and a non-display area; a circuit layer disposed on the substrate; and an element layer. The circuit layer includes a substrate buffer layer disposed on the substrate; a semiconductor layer disposed on the substrate buffer layer; a first gate insulating layer covering the semiconductor layer; a first gate conductive layer disposed on the first gate insulating layer; a second gate insulating layer covering the first gate conductive layer; a second gate conductive layer disposed on the second gate insulating layer; an interlayer insulating layer covering the second gate conductive layer; a grid defined by grooves defined in the display area and the non-display area, where the grooves includes first extension grooves and second extension grooves which intersect the first extension grooves; and a grid filling layer which fills the grid and includes an organic insulating material.