Foldable Display Housing Structure to Prevent Panel Slipping

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

During the folding of a display apparatus with a foldable display panel, the end of the display panel may slip, causing variations in its position, which increases the non-display area and reduces the display area, and there is a need for a structure that enhances durability and maintains a larger display area.

Innovation Solution

A display apparatus with a folding area and a non-folding area, featuring a housing with a recessed portion for the window and a slidable second housing, along with elastic portions and adhesive members to stabilize the display module during folding, preventing slipping and creasing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Weight of moving object

If a foldable display panel is used to reduce weight and thickness, then the display apparatus becomes lightweight and thin, but the display panel may slip during folding causing increased non-display area and reduced display area

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveweightVSAvoiddisplay area
Core Design Contradiction:
Weight of moving objectVSArea of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is divided into a first housing and a second housing that are separated from each other. The first housing surrounds the display module while the second housing is disposed on the lower surface, allowing independent movement and preventing the display panel from slipping during folding, thus maintaining display area without increasing overall weight.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

An adhesive member is introduced as an intermediary between the display module and the first housing. This adhesive member stabilizes the display panel position during folding operations, preventing slippage that would otherwise reduce the effective display area, while maintaining the lightweight特性 of the foldable design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If spare space is provided in the housing to receive slipped display panel, then the display panel slipping is accommodated, but the non-display area increases and display area reduces

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovedurabilityVSAvoiddisplay area
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSArea of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The second housing is designed to be slidable with respect to the display module during folding. This dynamic structure allows the housing to adapt to the folding motion without requiring excessive spare space, maintaining display area while ensuring durability through controlled movement accommodation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The thickness of the window is varied in different areas - thinner in the folding area and thicker in the non-folding area. This parameter change allows the window to flex during folding without breaking, preventing panel failure that would require spare space, while minimizing the non-display area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If the window thickness is reduced in the folding area, then the folding flexibility is improved, but the structural strength may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefolding flexibilityVSAvoidstructural strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The window is designed with non-uniform thickness - thinner in the folding area to enable flexibility and thicker in the non-folding area to provide structural strength. This local quality variation allows the window to simultaneously achieve folding flexibility where needed and structural integrity where required, without compromising either property.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The window structure combines different thickness regions to create a composite-like structure that exhibits both flexibility and strength. The varying thickness profile creates a gradient structure that optimizes mechanical properties for different functional requirements within the same component.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentEP4679227A1Display apparatus
Publication Date: 2026.01.14 SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO LTD
  • EP4679227A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4679227A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4679227A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A display apparatus includes a folding area having a folding axis extending in a first direction and a non-folding area adjacent thereto. The folding area is foldable with respect to the folding axis. The display apparatus includes a display module including an upper surface having a display surface and a lower surface having a non-display surface. A window is on the upper surface of the display module. A housing accommodates the display module and the window. The housing includes a first housing surrounding a circumference of the display module and including a recessed portion recessed towards an inside of the first housing. A circumference of the window is disposed in the recessed portion. A second housing is separated from the first housing and disposed on the lower surface of the display module. The second housing is slidable with respect to the display module when the display module is folded.