Foldable Display Pages with Bend Limit Layer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern computing devices face challenges in balancing portability and functionality with foldable displays, as they often result in either an unwieldy large or too small form factor, and folding thin displays can damage sensitive components like TFTs and OLEDs due to small radius bends.
Innovation Solution
A computing device with a spine member housing memory and processor, featuring display pages that rotate about an axis, and incorporating a bend limit layer to restrict bending to a minimum radius, preventing damage to display components and allowing for easy switching between folded and unfolded configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a foldable flexible display is used to achieve a small form factor when folded, then the device becomes portable, but the unfolded configuration becomes too large and unwieldly
Solution Approach 1:
The display is divided into multiple independent display pages that can be folded along with spines. Each page contains separate OLED displays on opposite sides, allowing the display to be segmented into manageable sections that can be folded without creating an excessively large unfolded form factor.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple display pages are nested together like book pages, with each page containing display elements. When folded, the pages nest within each other along the spine, creating a compact form factor while maintaining the ability to display content on multiple surfaces.
2Volume of moving object
If a thin display is used to keep the device small and slim, then portability is improved, but small radius bends at the fold damage sensitive components like TFTs and OLEDs
Solution Approach 1:
A bend limit layer is incorporated into the display structure beforehand to prevent excessive bending. This layer acts as a mechanical constraint that stops the display from bending beyond a safe radius, protecting sensitive components like OLEDs and TFTs from damage before damage can occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The display utilizes thin film structures including OLED layers and encapsulation layers that are inherently flexible but can be protected from excessive stress. The bend limit layer works in conjunction with these thin films to allow necessary flexibility while preventing damage.
3Reliability
If the display is made thick to protect components from bending damage, then reliability is improved, but the device becomes bulky and less portable
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using thick rigid structures to protect components, the invention employs thin flexible film layers including OLED layers, encapsulation layers, and a bend limit layer. These thin films provide component protection through their layered structure and mechanical properties without increasing overall device thickness.
Solution Approach 2:
The display structure uses composite material layers including flexible substrates, OLED layers, encapsulation layers, and bend limit layers. Each layer contributes specific protective or functional properties, allowing thin overall construction while maintaining component protection through the composite structure.
Data Source
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AI summary
A computing device includes memory configured for storing executable instructions, a processor configured for executing the instructions, a spine member, where the spine member includes the memory and the processor, and a plurality of display pages, each display page coupled at a first edge of the page to the spine member and having a second edge, opposite the first edge that is free to rotate about an axis defined by the spine member, wherein at least one page includes two separately controllable OLED displays on opposite sides of the page.