Foldable Display Circuit Board IC Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
In foldable display devices, driving integrated circuits (ICs) on flexible printed circuit boards often contact each other during bending, leading to potential damage and functionality issues.
Innovation Solution
The design includes a folding area with recessed indented portions and folding holes in the circuit board, ensuring that driving ICs in the first and second unfolding areas do not overlap in the thickness direction, preventing direct contact and enhancing flexibility during folding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If driving ICs are disposed on a flexible printed circuit board in a foldable display device, then the display device can be folded to provide a larger screen, but the driving ICs may contact each other during bending causing potential damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions driving ICs in different unfolding areas (first and second unfolding areas) such that they do not overlap in the thickness direction during folding. This spatial arrangement in three-dimensional space prevents contact while maintaining foldability, directly resolving the contradiction between adaptability and reliability.
2Strength
If the circuit board is made rigid to support driving ICs, then the ICs are protected from damage, but the display device cannot be folded
Solution Approach 1:
The circuit board is divided into distinct functional areas: folding area, first unfolding area, and second unfolding area. The driving ICs are placed in the unfolding areas where rigidity is maintained, while the folding area remains flexible. This segmentation allows the board to be both strong where needed and foldable where required.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the circuit board have different mechanical properties. The unfolding areas maintain rigidity to support driving ICs, while the folding area is designed to be flexible. This local differentiation of material properties resolves the contradiction between overall rigidity and local foldability.
3Area of stationary object
If driving ICs are placed close together to save space, then the device size is reduced, but the ICs may contact each other during folding
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of increasing separation distance in the planar direction (which would waste space), the patent utilizes the thickness direction by positioning ICs in different unfolding areas. This three-dimensional spatial arrangement maintains compact device size while preventing IC contact during folding.
Data Source
AI summary
A display device includes a folding area, a first unfolding area located on a side of the folding area, and a second unfolding area located on a second side of the folding area. The display device further includes a display module which includes a display panel, and a first circuit board which is attached to the display panel and disposed under the display module, wherein the first circuit board includes a base film, a first driving integrated circuit (“IC”) disposed in the first unfolding area, and a second driving IC disposed in the second unfolding area where the first driving IC and the second driving IC do not overlap each other in a thickness direction during folding.