Flexible Display Substrate Cutting Layout for Narrow Borders

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional techniques for manufacturing electronic devices with reduced borders result in low reliability due to potential open circuits and insufficient border reduction, especially when bending peripheral regions.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a flexible substrate with bending parts and cutting structures in the peripheral region, allowing the substrate to be bent while ensuring the electronic components are only bent once, thereby enhancing yield and quality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the border of the electronic device is reduced by conventional techniques, then the size of the electronic device is reduced, but the reliability of the electronic device deteriorates due to potential open circuits in peripheral traces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesize of electronic deviceVSAvoidreliability of electronic device

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible substrate is divided into a display region and a peripheral region, with the peripheral region further segmented into first and second side regions. Cutting structures are introduced to separate these regions, allowing independent handling and bending of peripheral portions without compromising the integrity of the display region and its peripheral traces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the flexible substrate are assigned different functional qualities: the display region maintains structural integrity for reliable trace connections, while the peripheral regions are designed with bending capability to reduce overall device size. The cutting structures create localized flexibility in peripheral areas without affecting the reliability-critical display region.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Volume of moving object

If the peripheral region is bent to reduce the border, then the size of the electronic device is reduced, but the peripheral traces may be broken causing open circuits

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesize of electronic deviceVSAvoidintegrity of peripheral traces

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The peripheral region is segmented into first and second side regions separated by cutting structures. This segmentation allows each side region to be bent independently along predetermined paths, preventing stress concentration that could break peripheral traces. The cutting structures act as stress relief points that guide the bending process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Cutting structures are pre-formed in the peripheral region before the bending process. These cutting structures predetermined the bending paths and stress distribution, ensuring that when the peripheral region is bent, the traces follow safe paths and avoid breaking. The preliminary cutting action prevents trace damage during subsequent bending operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Length of stationary object

If the border is reduced by conventional techniques, then the degree of border reduction is limited, but further reduction compromises device reliability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveborder widthVSAvoidreliability of electronic device

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The solution moves from a two-dimensional planar layout to a three-dimensional folded structure. By bending the peripheral regions and stacking them over the display region, the effective border width is reduced without compromising the physical integrity of the traces. The cutting structures enable this dimensional transformation by creating hinge points for folding.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The first and second side regions are bent and positioned to overlap the display region, creating a nested configuration where peripheral portions are folded over the central display area. This nesting reduces the overall device footprint while maintaining trace integrity through the cutting structures that guide the folding process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentUS11894385B2Electronic device

Publication Date: 2024.02.06 HANNSTAR DISPLAY NANJING

AI summary

An electronic device includes a flexible substrate and a driving component. In the flexible substrate, a first side region, a second side region and a first cutting structure are disposed in a peripheral region, wherein a display region and the first side region are separated by a first edge of the display region, the display region and the second side region are separated by a second edge of the display region, the first edge and the second edge are respectively parallel to a first direction and a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the first cutting structure has a first endpoint and two edges separated by the first endpoint and respectively belonging to the first side region and the second side region. The driving component overlaps the flexible substrate in a top view direction perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction.