Flexible Display Lead Tension Management via Zigzag Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increased tension in leads arranged in a bent area of a flexible display panel can lead to cracks, causing malfunctions in electronic devices with minimized bezel areas and larger screen sizes.
Innovation Solution
The arrangement of leads in a zigzag pattern or wave pattern within the bent area of the display panel reduces tension and minimizes the risk of cracks, allowing for a larger curvature and increased screen size while maintaining structural integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If leads are arranged in a bent area of the display panel to connect hardware modules below the front surface, then the display area can be maximized and bezel area minimized, but tension and stress on the leads increase causing cracks and malfunctions
Solution Approach 1:
The lead arrangement transitions from straight lines to curved paths (zigzag or wave patterns) in the bent area. This curvature allows the leads to follow the bent contour of the display panel while distributing mechanical stress along the curved path, preventing concentration of tension at sharp corners or straight transitions, thereby reducing crack formation risk
Solution Approach 2:
The lead arrangement is designed to be dynamic rather than static, adapting its path to accommodate the bent area's curvature. The zigzag or wave pattern allows the leads to flex and deform elastically with the bent area during bending operations, rather than resisting the deformation, which would concentrate stress and cause failure
2Area of stationary object
If the curvature of the bent area is increased to maximize screen size, then the bezel area is minimized, but the tension on the leads increases causing cracks
Solution Approach 1:
The lead paths are designed with curved zigzag or wave patterns that match the curvature of the bent area. This geometric correspondence allows the leads to follow the curved trajectory without creating sharp bends or corners where stress would concentrate, enabling higher curvature values while maintaining lead strength
Solution Approach 2:
The lead arrangement parameters (pattern type, amplitude, wavelength) are optimized to match specific curvature ranges. By adjusting these parameters, the leads can accommodate increased curvature values while distributing stress evenly, allowing the bent area to achieve higher curvature for maximized screen area
Data Source
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AI summary
An electronic device includes a first lead, a second lead, a touch sensitive display panel including a screen area and an extended area that extends from the screen area, and a control circuit. The touch sensitive display panel includes a flexible substrate, a thin film transistor (TFT) layer including a plurality of light-emitting elements, an insulation layer in which a via-hole is formed, and a touch sensor. The first lead is formed on the TFT layer in the screen area and the extended area and connects the control circuit and the plurality of light-emitting elements. The second lead is formed on the insulation layer in the screen area and on the TFT layer in the extended area, and extends from the screen area to the extended area through the via-hole formed in the insulation layer and connects the control circuit and the touch sensor.