Flexible Display Hinge Module with Support Plate
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Foldable electronic devices experience poor surface quality and usability due to frequent folding operations, which cause deformation and folding marks in the flexible display, particularly in the bending regions where the housings and hinge plates are combined, leading to a deterioration in the device's rigidity and operational reliability.
Innovation Solution
The electronic device incorporates a hinge module with first and second hinge plates that form reverse bending sections with greater curvature than the folding region, supported by a window layer, display panel, and a support plate with specific openings and recesses, along with a digitizer and reinforcing plate, to enhance bendability and rigidity while preventing attachment to the housings and hinge plates, thus maintaining a standardized bending shape and reducing interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the flexible display is frequently folded in the bending regions where housings and hinge plates are combined, then the device provides portability and large-screen display functionality, but the surface quality deteriorates due to deformation and folding marks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the display structure into multiple independent layers (display panel, support plate, digitizer, reinforcing plate) that can move and deform independently during folding. This segmentation allows each layer to handle stress differently, preventing permanent deformation and folding marks on the visible surface while maintaining folding functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a composite structure combining rigid components (support plate, digitizer, reinforcing plate) with flexible elements. The rigid layers provide structural integrity and prevent bending in non-foldable regions, while the overall assembly remains flexible enough to fold at designated hinge regions, thus protecting surface quality during frequent folding operations.
2Strength
If supporting structures are added to improve rigidity, then the device maintains structural integrity, but the bendability of the flexible display deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies rigid supporting structures (support plate, digitizer, reinforcing plate) selectively in specific regions rather than uniformly across the entire display. These rigid elements are positioned to provide necessary structural support while leaving the hinge regions free to bend, thus maintaining both rigidity where needed and bendability where required for folding operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The supporting structures are divided into separate layers that can be independently positioned and configured. This allows the rigid support elements to provide structural integrity to the display assembly while the segmented, layered construction enables controlled flexibility at the hinge regions, resolving the contradiction between rigidity and bendability.
Data Source
AI summary
According to various embodiments, an electronic device includes a first housing, a second housing, a hinge device, and a flexible display. The hinge device foldably combines the first housing and second housing. The flexible display has a folding region folded through the hinge device, a first bending region located at one side of the folding region, and a second bending region located on other side of the folding region, and includes a window layer, a display panel disposed under the window layer, and a support plate disposed under the display panel and including a pattern having at least one opening and/or at least one recess formed at a position corresponding to at least the folding region. The first bending region is configured to refrain from being attached to the first housing and a first hinge plate, and the second bending region is configured to refrain from being attached to the second housing and a second hinge plate. The support plate maintains a specific thickness in a portion corresponding to the first bending region and the second bending region.