Flexible OLED Display Substrate Bending for Reduced Non-Display Area
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electronic devices with displays face challenges in minimizing the non-display area, which affects the device's size, weight, and aesthetics, as components like driving circuits and interfaces occupy significant space, making it difficult to integrate them into compact housings while maintaining appealing designs.
Innovation Solution
A flexible display apparatus where the base substrate is bent to position non-display areas behind the display area, reducing the visible non-display area and enabling new design possibilities by integrating components directly on the base layer or on separate printed circuit boards positioned at the rear, with conductive lines and strain-reducing trace designs to manage bend stress.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If components are placed on the display panel in periphery areas, then driving circuits and peripheral functions are integrated, but the non-display area increases making the display panel bulky
Solution Approach 1:
The patent moves components from the two-dimensional plane of the display panel to a three-dimensional configuration by bending the substrate. The non-display area is folded underneath the display area, transitioning from a flat layout to a layered spatial arrangement, thereby reducing the visible footprint while maintaining component integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The non-display area containing driving circuits is nested underneath the display area by bending the substrate. This nesting arrangement allows the non-display area to be positioned behind the display area, effectively hiding it from view and reducing the overall device footprint.
2Area of stationary object
If non-display area is reduced by bending substrate, then screen to bezel ratio improves, but mechanical stress and reliability challenges increase
Solution Approach 1:
The substrate is designed with non-uniform properties: the bend allowance section has reduced thickness and modified material characteristics compared to the display area, making it specifically suited for bending while the display area maintains its structural integrity and visual properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The substrate is divided into distinct functional sections: a display area, a non-display area, and a bend allowance section. This segmentation allows each section to be optimized for its specific function, with the bend allowance section designed to accommodate mechanical stress during folding.
3Area of stationary object
If interfaces and connection wires are minimized, then non-display area reduction is enhanced, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The substrate is pre-formed with a bend allowance section and predetermined bending characteristics before final assembly. This preliminary preparation of the substrate's mechanical properties simplifies the subsequent bending and connection processes during manufacturing.
Data Source
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AI summary
There is provided a flexible display having a plurality of innovations configured to allow bending of a portion or portions to reduce apparent border size and/or utilize a side surface of an assembled flexible display. A flexible display apparatus comprises a flexible base layer defined with a first area, a second area and a bend allowance section between the first area and the second area of the flexible base layer, a plurality of display pixels in the first area of the flexible base layer, and at least one driver integrated circuit (D-IC) placed in the second area of the flexible base layer.