Flexible Display Substrate Carrying Units for IC Stress Management

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Flexible display devices face issues where integrated circuits separate from the display substrate when bent, leading to improper display and reduced product yield due to the rigidity of ICs and limitations in adhesive deformation.

Innovation Solution

The non-display area of the flexible display substrate is divided into independent carrying units with buffer members to distribute stress, preventing IC separation during bending by allowing each IC to be connected to a PCB and display components through flexible circuitry, even in multi-axis bending scenarios.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If a transparent substrate is used for the display device, then light transmission is improved, but mechanical strength and flexibility are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight transmissionVSAvoidmechanical strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a composite structure consisting of a flexible substrate layer, a reflective layer, and a transparent substrate layer. This composite material approach allows the display device to combine the light transmission benefits of transparent materials with the mechanical strength and flexibility of the flexible substrate and reflective layer, effectively resolving the contradiction between light transmission and mechanical properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Adaptability or versatility

If the display device is made flexible, then wearable application is improved, but manufacturing precision and alignment are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewearable applicationVSAvoidalignment precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates a reflection type liquid crystal shutter positioned between the flexible substrate and the reflective layer, which is pre-configured to control light reflection angles. This preliminary arrangement of optical components ensures precise light control is maintained even when the display device is bent or deformed, thereby preserving manufacturing precision while enabling flexible wearable applications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Illumination intensity

If a reflective layer is added to improve outdoor visibility, then light reflection is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty are increased

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight reflectionVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The reflective layer in the patent serves multiple functions simultaneously: it reflects ambient light to enhance outdoor visibility, provides structural support to the flexible display, and acts as a barrier layer. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby improving light reflection without proportionally increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This configuration effectively buffers stress between carrying units and the base substrate, ensuring ICs remain connected, enhancing the display performance and yield of flexible display devices by allowing for greater flexibility and stability during bending.

Implementation Method 1

a reflection type liquid crystal shutter positioned between the flexible substrate and the reflective layer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLiquid crystal effect: Liquid Crystals

Data Source

PatentEP3244385B1Display substrate, display panel, and display device
Publication Date: 2020.01.29 BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO LTD
  • EP3244385B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3244385B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4a
  • EP3244385B1 patent drawingFigure 4b~5

AI summary

A display substrate, a display panel and a display device are disclosed. The display substrate including a flexible base substrate (1), the flexible base substrate (1) includes a display area (2) and a non-display area (02) disposed outside the display area (2), the non-display area (02) of the base substrate (1) is divided to form at least one carrying unit (10) by at least one buffer member (8), and the problems that flexible display devices cannot display properly and the product yield is affected because integrated circuit is separated from the display substrate when a flexible display substrate in a flexible display device is bended can be resolved.