Foldable Display Groove Pattern Stress Dispersion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Foldable display apparatuses face challenges in crack resistance and manufacturing complexity due to the need for additional structures to prevent cracking during repeated folding and unfolding, leading to increased thickness and complexity in the manufacturing process.
Innovation Solution
A foldable display apparatus with a flexible substrate featuring a groove pattern on its rear surface, a glass substrate with an opening portion corresponding to the folding area, and a pattern frame to enhance rigidity, along with a filling member that minimizes creases and improves crack resistance by dispersing stress and filling the groove pattern, thereby optimizing the lower structure of the display panel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If additional structures are introduced to improve crack resistance, then crack resistance is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by introducing groove patterns only in specific areas where stress concentration occurs during folding, rather than adding structures throughout the entire display panel. The groove patterns are localized to the folding area and extending areas, allowing crack resistance to be improved only where needed while keeping the rest of the structure simple and maintaining overall device thinness.
2Reliability
If additional structures are introduced to improve crack resistance, then crack resistance is improved, but manufacturing process becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The groove patterns are formed locally in the flexible substrate and filling member only in areas requiring stress management, which can be achieved through targeted photolithography or laser processing. This localized approach simplifies manufacturing compared to adding protective structures across the entire panel, as it requires modifications only in specific zones rather than throughout the whole manufacturing process.
3Reliability
If additional structures are introduced to improve crack resistance, then crack resistance is improved, but thickness of the display apparatus increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the flexible substrate itself as the primary structural element and introduces groove patterns (voids or recesses) rather than adding thick protective layers. The groove patterns are formed within the existing thin flexible substrate and filling member, maintaining the overall thin profile of the display panel while providing crack resistance through the stress-dispersing geometry of the grooves rather than through increased material thickness.
4Reliability
If groove pattern is formed on rear surface of flexible substrate, then crack resistance is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The groove patterns are segmented into discrete regions (folding area and extending area) with specific geometric configurations. This segmentation allows each groove pattern to be independently optimized for its location and function, and the patterns can be formed using standard photolithography techniques with conventional alignment tolerances, reducing the overall manufacturing precision requirements compared to a continuous or more complex structural approach.
Data Source
AI summary
A foldable display apparatus includes a display panel including a flexible substrate, in which at least one folding area folded based on a folding axis and non-folding areas disposed at one side and the other side of the folding area are defined, a glass substrate disposed below the flexible substrate, including an opening portion corresponding to the folding area, and a pattern frame disposed below the glass substrate, wherein the flexible substrate includes at least one groove pattern formed to overlap the folding area, and the groove pattern is formed on a rear surface of the flexible substrate.