Foldable Display Module Metal Foam Structure for Bending Stress Relief

The patent introduces a metal foam layer with a porous structure in the bendable area of the foldable display device. This porous material absorbs and distributes stress during folding, preventing stress concentration and damage while maintaining a thin overall structure. The metal foam layer acts as a cushioning element that accommodates the mechanical stress of repeated folding cycles.

The patent combines multiple materials including a metal foam layer, an organic material layer, and an inorganic material layer to create a composite structure. This composite approach integrates the advantages of different materials: the metal foam provides mechanical strength and stress distribution, while the organic and inorganic layers provide flexibility and protection, collectively resolving the contradiction between thinness and stress resistance.

The metal foam layer maintains a porous structure with controlled density that balances rigidity and heat dissipation. The pores provide thermal pathways for heat dissipation while the metal matrix provides structural rigidity. This porous structure allows the material to simultaneously achieve both mechanical strength and thermal management performance.

The patent applies the metal foam layer specifically in the bendable area where both mechanical stress and heat generation are concentrated. The local application of this material with optimized porosity provides enhanced rigidity where needed while maintaining heat dissipation capabilities, rather than uniformly densifying the entire structure.

The metal foam layer provides effective heat dissipation through its porous structure that facilitates thermal conduction and convection, achieving thermal performance comparable to or better than solid metal. The foam structure uses less material, reducing cost and simplifying manufacturing while maintaining or improving heat dissipation efficiency.

The patent changes the density parameter of the metal layer by using a foam structure with controlled porosity. This parameter change allows the material to achieve optimal balance between heat dissipation, mechanical properties, and manufacturing cost, avoiding the need for expensive solid metal layers while maintaining thermal performance.