Flexible Display Window with Segmented Hard Coating Patterns

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Solution Overview

Problem

Flexible display apparatuses face challenges in maintaining both flexible characteristics and high durability, as existing display windows are prone to damage and scratching from external shocks due to their low hardness and structural vulnerabilities.

Innovation Solution

A display window design featuring a base plate with first and second coating patterns on opposite surfaces, where the first coating patterns have a narrower width than the second, providing increased hardness and durability while maintaining flexibility, with the second coating patterns facing the display panel to enhance support and protection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a flexible substrate is used instead of glass substrate, then flexibility is improved, but durability and resistance to damage are worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveflexibilityVSAvoiddurability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The display window uses a composite structure consisting of a flexible base plate combined with hard coating patterns on both surfaces. This composite design allows the window to maintain flexibility from the base plate while gaining durability and scratch resistance from the hard coating layers, effectively resolving the contradiction between flexibility and durability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies hard coating patterns selectively on the surfaces of the flexible base plate. The coating patterns are distributed across the surface but not uniformly solid, providing localized hardness where needed for protection while maintaining the overall flexibility of the base plate structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If coating patterns are added to increase hardness, then durability is improved, but flexibility may be worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovedurabilityVSAvoidflexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The coating is applied as multiple discrete patterns rather than a continuous solid layer. The first and second coating patterns are spaced apart from each other on the base plate, creating a segmented structure that provides hardness for durability while allowing the flexible base plate to bend between the coating segments, thus maintaining flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If coating patterns are made wider to provide better support, then durability is improved, but flexibility is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovedurabilityVSAvoidflexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The coating patterns are designed with specific width dimensions that provide adequate support for durability while maintaining spacing that allows flexibility. The segmented nature of the coating patterns ensures they are wide enough to provide structural support but not so wide as to prevent the base plate from bending.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS9519083B2Display window for display apparatus and display apparatus including the same

Publication Date: 2016.12.13 SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO LTD

AI summary

Provided is a display window for a display apparatus, the display window including a base plate; a plurality of first coating patterns on an entire first surface of the base plate spaced from one another; and a plurality of second coating patterns on an entire second surface of the base plate spaced from one another and corresponding to the first coating patterns. A width of each of the first coating patterns is less than a width of a corresponding second coating pattern.