Flexible Display Support Layer Cut Portions for Stress Dispersion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flexible display panels face challenges in minimizing the inactive area to achieve a narrow bezel design, as components are fragile due to mechanical stresses from bending, and the addition of touch-related devices complicates the slim and light design, making it difficult to maintain a constant radius curvature without additional supporting members.
Innovation Solution
A flexible substrate with a support layer that includes cut portions in the bending area to disperse stress and maintain a constant distance between substrates, combined with a coating layer to protect components, allowing for partial or full folding of the inactive area behind the active area, thus reducing the bezel size and enhancing durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the inactive area is reduced to achieve a narrow bezel design, then the screen to bezel ratio is improved, but the components become fragile due to mechanical stresses from bending
Solution Approach 1:
The support layer is divided into a first support layer and a second support layer that are selectively bonded to different areas of the flexible substrate. The first support layer is bonded to the active area while the second support layer is bonded to the inactive area, creating segmented support zones that allow differential flexibility and stress distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
Different support structures are provided for different areas of the flexible substrate. The active area receives support from the first support layer with first bonding strength, while the inactive area receives support from the second support layer with second bonding strength, creating local quality variations that optimize both display quality and stress resistance.
2Reliability
If additional supporting members are added to protect components from bending stress, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The support layers serve multiple functions: they provide mechanical support to protect components from bending stress, maintain the flexibility of the display apparatus, and enable the selective bonding structure that allows the inactive area to be folded behind the active area. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate supporting members.
3Weight of moving object
If the flexible substrate is made thinner to enhance flexibility, then the light weight and slim profile are improved, but the mechanical strength decreases making components more vulnerable
Solution Approach 1:
The display apparatus uses a composite structure combining the flexible substrate with support layers made of different materials. The support layers provide enhanced mechanical strength and protective properties while the flexible substrate maintains its thin and light characteristics, creating a composite system that balances flexibility and strength.
Data Source
AI summary
A flexible display apparatus can have a flexible substrate including: an active area including a plurality of driving TFTs and a plurality of organic emission elements, and an inactive area including a first inactive area adjacent to the active area, a second inactive area for a circuit board, and a bending area between the first inactive area and the second inactive area; a component disposed on at least a part of the first inactive area; a plurality of wiring lines extending from the plurality of driving TFTs to the first inactive area, the bending area and the second inactive area; and a support layer disposed across the active area, the first inactive area, the bending area, and the second inactive area, in which a portion the support layer includes at least one cut portion overlapping with the bending area of the flexible substrate.