Flexible Display Panel Neutral Layer Adjustment for Bend Stress

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Solution Overview

Problem

Flexible display panels face damage to elements in the bendable area when bent, degrading product quality due to uneven stress distribution during bending.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a neutral layer adjusting structure with delimiting strips or blocks to adjust the position of the neutral layer within the bendable area, ensuring the flexible element is positioned at or near the neutral layer to minimize damage during bending.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the flexible display panel is bent, then the flexibility and bendability are improved, but the elements in the bendable area are damaged due to uneven stress distribution

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovebendabilityVSAvoidelement integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a neutral layer adjusting structure with different thicknesses at different locations. The thickness of the neutral layer adjusting structure varies along the bending direction, creating local quality differences that redistribute stress uniformly during bending. This resolves the contradiction by making the structure non-uniform in the bendable area while maintaining element integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the physical parameter of the neutral layer adjusting structure by controlling its thickness distribution. By adjusting the thickness parameter of the neutral layer adjusting structure (first thickness in the bending direction, second thickness perpendicular to bending), the stress distribution during bending is optimized, allowing the panel to be bent without damaging elements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If a neutral layer adjusting structure is added to protect elements during bending, then the element integrity is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelement integrityVSAvoidstructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the neutral layer adjusting structure with the existing flexible substrate structure. The neutral layer adjusting structure is integrated into the flexible substrate as a thickness variation rather than a separate component, thus protecting elements during bending without significantly increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The neutral layer adjusting structure is implemented as a thin film structure with varying thickness, conforming to the flexible substrate. This thin film approach provides the necessary stress redistribution during bending while maintaining a simple and integrated structure that does not substantially increase device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Data Source

PatentUS11243574B2Flexible display panel, method for fabricating the same, and flexible display device

Publication Date: 2022.02.08 BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO LTD

AI summary

The disclosure provides a flexible display panel, a method for fabricating the same, and a flexible display device. A flexible display panel according to an embodiment of the disclosure includes a flexible substrate comprising a display area and a non-display area, the non-display area is provided with a bendable area; a display element arranged in the display area of the flexible substrate; a flexible element arranged in the bendable area of the flexible substrate; a backside protection film arranged on a side of the flexible substrate away from the display element; the backside protection film is provided with a groove; a length direction of the groove is parallel to a direction of a bending axis of the bendable area.