Foldable Display Support Layout for Full Panel Support and Bending Space
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Solution Overview
Problem
Foldable display devices with movable supports face challenges in ensuring full panel support during unfolding and minimizing stress during in-folding, leading to reduced touch sensitivity and durability issues due to inadequate support and narrow spaces.
Innovation Solution
A foldable display device design featuring a central support that moves vertically under the foldable area, with peripheral supports that slide to support the entire panel during unfolding and retract during in-folding, creating sufficient space for smooth bending.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fixed support structure is used to support the display panel, then the structure is simple, but the entire area of the display panel cannot be supported during unfolding operation
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure transitions from a fixed configuration to a dynamic one where the central support moves vertically and peripheral supports slide horizontally. This dynamic adaptation allows the support structure to provide comprehensive coverage during unfolding while creating sufficient space during in-folding, resolving the contradiction between support coverage and structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The support structure is divided into multiple independent components: a central support for the foldable area and multiple peripheral supports for the first and second areas. This segmentation allows each component to move independently, enabling full panel coverage during unfolding while maintaining structural manageability.
2Ease of operation
If the support structure is compact to maintain portability, then the device is portable, but there is narrow space to receive the display panel during in-folding operation
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure dynamically adjusts its configuration based on the display panel state. During in-folding, the central support descends and peripheral supports slide away, creating sufficient accommodation space for the bent panel while maintaining a compact form factor for portability when folded.
Solution Approach 2:
The support structure components are designed to nest within each other when not in use. The peripheral supports can be positioned within the space created by the central support's descent, and the entire support mechanism folds within the device housing, achieving compact portability without sacrificing accommodation space when needed.
3Device complexity
If the central support remains stationary, then the structure is simple, but stress concentrates on the display panel during in-folding operation
Solution Approach 1:
The central support is designed to move vertically in response to the folding/unfolding operation. During in-folding, it descends to create space and reduce stress concentration on the display panel. This dynamic movement distributes stress more evenly across the support structure, enhancing panel durability without requiring an overly complex mechanism.
Data Source
AI summary
An example of a foldable display device includes a display panel having a first area, a second area, and a foldable area therebetween; a first support plate supporting the first area of the display panel; a second support plate supporting the second area of the display panel; a central support disposed under the foldable area of the display panel and configured to move vertically; a first peripheral support slidable while supporting the first support plate; a second peripheral support slidable while supporting the second support plate; and a hinge body disposed under the central support. The central support ascends toward the display panel during an unfolding operation and descends toward the hinge body during an in-folding operation. The first peripheral support and the second peripheral support move toward the central support during the unfolding operation, and move away from the central support during the in-folding operation.