Foldable Display Panel With Hollow Metal Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Flexible display panels with inwardly folding areas experience high bending stress, leading to arching, wrinkling, and poor recovery of the stainless steel supporting layer, which increases the risk of cracking and display abnormalities.
Innovation Solution
A foldable display panel design featuring a metal supporting layer with a complete SUS stainless steel layer in outwardly folding areas and a hollow pattern in inwardly folding areas, combined with a stress buffer layer and polarizing cover layer, to distribute bending stress evenly and prevent cracking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a complete SUS stainless steel layer is provided in the inwardly folding area, then the supporting strength is improved, but the arching and wrinkling tendency increases due to high bending stress
Solution Approach 1:
The stainless steel supporting layer is segmented into a grid pattern with multiple holes, transforming the continuous structure into a modular framework. This segmentation allows the layer to flex and deform more easily during inward folding, reducing stress concentration while maintaining structural support. The grid structure distributes bending forces across multiple points rather than concentrating them, preventing arching and wrinkling.
Solution Approach 2:
The supporting layer has different structural qualities in different regions: the grid pattern is specifically applied in the inwardly folding area where high bending stress occurs, while other areas may have different configurations. This local modification allows the supporting layer to adapt its mechanical properties to the specific stress conditions of each region, providing support where needed while allowing flexibility where required.
2Strength
If a complete SUS stainless steel layer is provided in the inwardly folding area, then the structural integrity is improved, but the recovery ability after flattening deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The grid pattern segmentation allows each cell to independently deform and recover during the folding and flattening process. When the display is folded inward and then flattened, the segmented structure enables localized elastic recovery without causing overall structural damage. The multiple small units can flex more readily than a continuous structure, improving the ability to return to the original state.
3Strength
If the stainless steel supporting layer is made thicker to increase strength, then the supporting capability is improved, but the stress concentration and cracking risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of increasing the thickness of a continuous layer, the grid pattern creates multiple discrete support points distributed across the surface. This approach provides equivalent or superior supporting capability while reducing stress concentration, as forces are distributed across many small support points rather than concentrated in a single thick layer. The segmented structure allows for better stress distribution and reduces the likelihood of cracking.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present invention provide a foldable display panel, comprising a display area. The display area is provided with a plurality of foldable areas, and a metal supporting layer is provided with a hollow pattern in the foldable areas. A material of the metal supporting layer is SUS stainless steel.