Flexible Display Window Buffer Layer Impact Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional display device windows lack the necessary flexibility and impact resistance, making them unsuitable for bendable or foldable applications, as rigid glass provides insufficient flexibility and polymer films often lack sufficient impact resistance.
Innovation Solution
A flexible window design featuring a polymer substrate with a first buffer layer made of polyurethane or silicone resin, a transparent adhesion layer, and a protective layer, which provides improved impact resistance and flexibility, allowing the window to be effectively used in bendable, foldable, or rollable display devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If rigid glass is used for the display device window, then impact resistance is improved, but flexibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by creating a multi-layer structure consisting of a polymer substrate, buffer layer, transparent adhesion layer, and protective layer. Each layer contributes different properties: the polymer substrate provides flexibility, the buffer layer enhances impact resistance, the transparent adhesion layer ensures bonding, and the protective layer adds durability. This composite structure resolves the contradiction by combining materials with complementary properties to achieve both flexibility and impact resistance simultaneously.
2Adaptability or versatility
If polymer film is used for the display device window, then flexibility is improved, but impact resistance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent overcomes the limitation of polymer films by combining them with other materials in a multi-layer composite structure. The polymer substrate maintains flexibility while the buffer layer and protective layer add impact resistance and durability, respectively. This composite approach allows the window to exhibit both the flexibility needed for bendable displays and the impact resistance required for effective protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the window into multiple functional layers, each responsible for specific properties. The polymer substrate handles flexibility, the buffer layer handles impact absorption, the transparent adhesion layer handles bonding, and the protective layer handles surface protection. This segmentation allows each layer to optimize its specific function without compromising the overall performance, resolving the contradiction between flexibility and impact resistance.
3Strength
If multi-layer structure is added to improve impact resistance, then impact resistance is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite materials to achieve impact resistance through a multi-layer structure, but manages complexity by optimizing the number and thickness of layers. The buffer layer thickness is specifically controlled at 150-250 μm to provide adequate impact protection without excessive bulk. The transparent adhesion layer is kept thin at 5-200 μm to ensure bonding while minimizing added complexity. This optimized composite structure achieves the desired impact resistance while maintaining reasonable device complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The window achieves enhanced impact resistance and flexibility, capable of withstanding drops without damage and maintaining structural integrity, while allowing for various bending and folding configurations, thus effectively protecting display panels in portable electronic devices.
Implementation Method 1
a first buffer layer under the polymer substrate and comprising polyurethane, a silicone resin, or a combination thereof
Implementation Method 2
a first transparent adhesion layer between the polymer substrate and the first buffer layer
Data Source
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AI summary
A window for a display device includes a polymer substrate, a first buffer layer under the polymer substrate and having an elastic modulus of about 7 megapascals to about 30 megapsacals, a first transparent adhesion layer between the polymer substrate and the first buffer layer and a protective layer on the polymer substrate, and a display device includes the same.