Flexible Window Substrate with Segmented Coating Tiles

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Solution Overview

Problem

Flexible display devices face challenges in maintaining both flexibility and high hardness, as traditional rigid window layers can damage easily but compromise the device's flexibility when made more durable.

Innovation Solution

A flexible window substrate with independently segmented coating layers of high hardness material is applied, featuring a base layer with first and second coating layers arranged in a specific pattern to enhance surface hardness while maintaining flexibility, using materials like elastomer and graphene.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a rigid material is used for the window layer to prevent surface damage, then surface hardness is improved, but flexibility of the display device deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurface hardnessVSAvoidflexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The window layer is divided into multiple independent coating tiles arranged in an array with gaps between them. Each tile is separated and can move independently, allowing the overall structure to maintain flexibility while individual tiles provide hardness protection. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by enabling both surface protection and device flexibility simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The coating tiles are positioned only in specific regions where surface protection is needed, rather than covering the entire window layer uniformly. The gaps between tiles allow flexibility in areas where protection is less critical. This local application of hardness material optimizes both protection and flexibility characteristics.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If a rigid material is used for the window layer to prevent surface damage, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurface durabilityVSAvoidstructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The window layer is segmented into multiple independent coating tiles rather than using a single rigid layer. This segmentation simplifies the manufacturing process by allowing tiles to be produced separately and assembled, while maintaining reliability through the collective protection of multiple tiles.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The coating tiles are implemented as thin film structures that can be deposited using standard thin film fabrication techniques. This approach maintains manufacturing simplicity while providing the required surface durability, avoiding the need for complex rigid structure assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Data Source

PatentUS10444798B2Flexible window substrate and flexible display device having the same

Publication Date: 2019.10.15 SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO LTD

AI summary

A flexible display device including a display panel configured to display an image, a touch screen panel on the display panel, and a window substrate covering the touch screen panel. The window substrate includes: a flexible base layer including a first surface facing an outside and a second surface facing the display panel in an opposite direction to the first surface; a first coating layer having hardness higher than that of the base layer and having a plurality of first coating tiles arranged on the first surface of the base layer thereof, at a first gap from each other; and a second coating layer having hardness higher than that of the base layer and having a plurality of second coating tiles arranged on a layer different from the first surface of the base layer thereof, at a second gap from each other.