Flexible Display Substrate Openings to Reduce Curved-Surface Creasing

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Flexible display panels attached to surfaces with non-zero Gauss curvature are prone to creasing, affecting display quality due to bending in multiple directions.

Innovation Solution

Forming openings in the substrate of the display panel corresponding to regions with non-zero Gauss curvature to enhance flexibility and reduce creasing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the flexible substrate is attached to a curved surface with non-zero Gauss curvature, then the display panel can be applied to various curved surfaces, but creases are likely to occur affecting display quality

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to curved surfacesVSAvoiddisplay quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The substrate is divided into a first region and a second region with different structural characteristics. The first region has a through-hole to reduce stiffness and prevent creasing, while the second region maintains a complete structure for structural support. This segmentation allows different regions to fulfill different functions, enabling adaptation to curved surfaces while maintaining display quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the substrate are given different structural properties. The first region containing the through-hole has reduced stiffness locally to accommodate curvature, while the second region maintains higher stiffness for structural integrity. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between adaptability and display quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of operation

If openings are formed in the substrate to improve flexibility, then the display panel can attach to curved surfaces with non-zero Gauss curvature, but the structural strength may be reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveflexibilityVSAvoidstructural strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The substrate is segmented into regions with different structural characteristics. The first region has a through-hole to enhance flexibility, while the second region remains complete to maintain structural strength. This segmentation allows the substrate to achieve both flexibility and strength simultaneously in different locations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The structural properties are differentiated locally across the substrate. The region with the opening has enhanced flexibility locally, while other regions maintain higher structural strength. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction between flexibility and strength.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS12426443B2Electronic device having flexible substrate with opening

Publication Date: 2025.09.23 INNOLUX CORP

AI summary

The present disclosure provides an electronic device, which comprises a flexible substrate, the flexible substrate comprises a curve region and another region, the curve region is surrounded by another region and has a Gauss curvature not equal to zero, and the flexible substrate has an opening in the curve region, a circuit layer disposed on the flexible substrate, a plurality of electronic units disposed on the flexible substrate and electrically connected to the circuit layer, and an insulating layer, wherein at least a portion of the insulating layer is overlapped with the opening of the flexible substrate.