Flexible Substrate Connection for Liquid Crystal Display Stress Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Flexible substrates in liquid crystal display devices face excessive stress when connecting to external circuits due to the need for folding back and projecting beyond the liquid crystal panel, which complicates downsizing and thickness reduction in mobile terminals.
Innovation Solution
A flexible substrate with a first connecting portion to the display element, a projecting portion folded back and fixed, and a second connecting portion projecting like a free end from this portion to the external circuit side, allowing connection without excessive stress by positioning the second connecting portion opposite to the display element.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the flexible substrate is folded back to the back side of the liquid crystal panel and the connecting portion is provided on the tip end side, then the connection to external circuit is achieved, but the flexible substrate must be folded back again which applies excessive stress to it
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible substrate is divided into distinct functional regions: a first connecting portion for the display element, a projecting portion that folds back, and a second connecting portion that remains projecting. This segmentation allows each portion to serve its specific function without compromising the overall structure, enabling connection reliability while preventing excessive stress on the substrate.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution transitions from a single-plane folding approach to a multi-dimensional configuration where the flexible substrate creates a three-dimensional structure with portions projecting in different directions. The second connecting portion projects in a direction opposite to the first connecting portion, utilizing spatial dimensionality to achieve connections without repeated folding and stress concentration.
2Volume of moving object
If the flexible substrate is folded back and fixed to the back side, then downsizing and thickness reduction are achieved, but the connection process becomes complex requiring additional folding
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the flexible substrate into distinct functional portions (first connecting portion, projecting portion, second connecting portion), the invention simplifies the overall connection structure. Each segment has a predetermined function, eliminating the need for complex multi-step folding and re-folding operations required in conventional designs.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of folding the entire flexible substrate back to the back side and then projecting the connecting portion outward (conventional approach), the invention inverts the approach by having the second connecting portion project in the opposite direction from the first connecting portion, directly from the projected state, thereby simplifying the connection structure.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the connecting portion is provided on the tip end side of the folded substrate, then connection to external circuit is possible, but excessive stress is applied to the flexible substrate
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible substrate is segmented into multiple functional portions with the second connecting portion positioned on the projecting portion rather than at the tip end of a fully folded substrate. This segmentation allows the connection to be established in a projected state, avoiding the excessive stress that would result from folding the substrate back completely and then projecting the connection point.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the connecting function with the projecting portion structure, where the second connecting portion is integrated into the projecting portion that extends from the folded-back flexible substrate. This merging allows the connection to be made in a naturally projected state without requiring additional folding operations that would apply excessive stress.
Data Source
AI summary
On a projecting portion projecting from a first connecting portion to be connected to a liquid crystal panel of an FPC, a second connecting portion is provided in a projecting state like a free end to the liquid crystal panel side at a position spaced from the first connecting portion. By folding-back the projecting portion to the back side of the liquid crystal panel, the second connecting portion projects to the opposite side of the liquid crystal panel, so that the liquid crystal panel and an external circuit can be connected to each other without applying an excessively great stress to the FPC.