Foldable Display Hydrophobic Layer Stress Management
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Flexible display devices face issues with protection films detaching from the surface at folding portions due to repeated stress, leading to potential damage and fingerprint stains.
Innovation Solution
A foldable display device with a hydrophobic anti-fingerprint layer and a hard coating layer, including polyimide, is designed to maintain adhesion and prevent delamination, featuring specific opening widths and curvature radii to manage stress and protect against fingerprints.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an additional protection film is attached to the display surface, then the display surface is protected, but the protection film may detach from the surface at folding portions due to repeated stress
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different properties to different regions of the protection film. Specifically, hydrophobic regions are created at the folding portions where stress concentration occurs, while other regions maintain standard protective properties. This local differentiation allows the film to better withstand repeated folding stress without detaching.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the surface energy parameters of the protection film by applying a hydrophobic coating at specific regions. This changes the wettability and adhesion characteristics locally, enabling the film to maintain stronger bonding at folding portions where stress is applied repeatedly.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the display device is made flexible to be folded, then portability is improved, but fingerprint stains occur on the display surface
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies hydrophobic regions specifically at the folding portions of the display surface, creating a localized solution to the fingerprint problem. These hydrophobic regions repel oils and contaminants from fingerprints, preventing stains while maintaining the overall flexibility and display functionality of the device.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potentially harmful effect of folding (which causes stress and contamination) into a beneficial feature by applying hydrophobic coating at folding portions. This coating transforms the high-stress folding areas into regions that actively repel fingerprints and stains, turning a vulnerability into an advantage.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively prevents delamination of protection films and reduces fingerprint stains by maintaining adhesion and distributing stress across the display device's surface, enhancing durability and usability.
Implementation Method 1
a second layer disposed on the first layer, the second layer including a hydrophobic material
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A
Figure 2B
AI summary
A display device including: a display panel configured to be folded about a first bending axis; a window member disposed on the display panel, the window member including a transparent material; and a functional layer disposed on the window member, the functional layer including a hydrophobic material and a first opening at a region corresponding to the first bending axis.