Flexible Window Groove Structure for Expandable Display Bending

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Solution Overview

Problem

Expandable flexible display devices face limitations in that their display panels and windows can be damaged during expansion, compromising their reliability and durability.

Innovation Solution

A window design featuring a substrate with groove patterns and fillers, where the groove patterns are arranged to absorb stress and distribute it evenly, preventing damage during bending and expansion, and the fillers are strategically placed to enhance the window's bending reliability and structural integrity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the display panel is made expandable and flexible, then user convenience and portability are improved, but the window and display panel become susceptible to damage during expansion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser convenienceVSAvoidwindow durability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The window substrate is divided into multiple segments by groove patterns that extend in the first direction. These grooves create separated regions that can independently deform during bending, preventing stress concentration and crack propagation across the entire window, thus maintaining durability while enabling flexibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The window structure is designed with different properties in different regions: the groove patterns are specifically positioned in bending portions to provide flexibility, while non-bending portions maintain structural integrity. The fillers are strategically placed in grooves to provide localized reinforcement where needed during expansion

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Adaptability or versatility

If the window substrate is made flexible to accommodate bending, then expandability is improved, but structural integrity and damage resistance deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveexpandabilityVSAvoidstructural integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The window combines the window substrate with fillers placed within groove patterns. This composite structure allows the substrate to bend and expand while the fillers provide reinforcement that maintains structural integrity, preventing damage during the expansion process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

Groove patterns are created that extend in the first direction (parallel to bending axis) rather than perpendicular to it. This dimensional orientation allows the substrate to bend along the first direction while the grooves provide stress distribution pathways, maintaining strength during expansion

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS20240365494A1Window and display device

Publication Date: 2024.10.31 SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO LTD

AI summary

A window includes: a window substrate including a bending portion bendable about a virtual bending axis that extends in a first direction; a plurality of groove patterns, which are defined in the bending portion, extend in the first direction, and are arranged in a second direction crossing the first direction; a sub groove, which is recessed into the window substrate from a pattern surface that define the plurality of at least one of groove patterns; and fillers, which fill the plurality of groove patterns and the sub groove. The sub groove includes a fixing region having a width that increases in a direction in which the sub groove is recessed.