Flexible Display Metal Plate Structure for Foldable Impact Resistance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Flexible display devices face challenges in maintaining impact resistance while being foldable without defects, particularly when subjected to folding and external impacts such as those from stylus pens.
Innovation Solution
A flexible display device design incorporating a metal plate with a specific structure, including a lower and upper metal plate, spacers, and a sealant, which creates a buffer effect to enhance impact resistance and prevent deformation during folding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a rigid glass substrate is used, then impact resistance is improved, but foldability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The metal plate is divided into an upper metal plate and a lower metal plate with spacers creating air gaps between them, segmenting the rigid structure into multiple separated components that can better handle impact forces while maintaining overall structural integrity for folding applications
Solution Approach 2:
A mesh pattern portion with plurality of openings is defined in the folding area of the metal plate, creating local differences in density and flexibility where the mesh structure provides both strength and foldability, while solid portions maintain impact resistance
2Adaptability or versatility
If a flexible plastic substrate is used, then foldability is improved, but impact resistance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The metal plate combines metal materials with air gaps and mesh patterns to create a composite structure that leverages the strength of metal while incorporating the flexibility of the air-filled mesh structure, achieving both impact resistance and foldability
3Strength
If additional protective films are added, then impact resistance is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The protective function is merged into the metal plate structure itself through the upper and lower metal plates with air gaps and mesh patterns, combining structural support and impact protection into a single integrated component rather than adding separate protective films
Data Source
AI summary
A flexible display device includes: a display panel including pixels, where a folding area is defined in the display panel; and a metal plate disposed on a rear surface of the display panel, where the metal plate includes: a lower metal plate; an upper metal plate including a step portion; and a main spacer and a subspacer disposed between the lower metal plate and the upper metal plate, where the subspacer overlaps the step portion in a plan view.