Foldable Display Panel with Multi-Directional Folding Notches

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional foldable display devices can only fold in a single direction, leading to limited folding options and potential damage from stress accumulation during folding.

Innovation Solution

A foldable display device design featuring a display panel with multiple folding lines and notches in the peripheral region, allowing for folding in multiple directions and distributing stress to prevent damage, with notches acting as line segments or communication holes to facilitate smooth folding.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a single folding line is used in conventional foldable display devices, then the device can be folded in one direction, but the folding options are limited and stress accumulates during folding

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefolding optionsVSAvoidstress accumulation
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The display panel is divided into multiple folding regions by introducing multiple folding lines (first folding line, second folding line, third folding line) that intersect to form multiple notches. This segmentation allows independent folding movements in different directions, increasing folding versatility while distributing stress across multiple regions rather than concentrating it at a single folding line.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the display panel are assigned different folding characteristics through the strategic placement of folding lines and notches. The notches created by intersecting folding lines allow localized stress relief and enable different folding angles and directions in different regions, optimizing both adaptability and stress distribution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple folding lines are introduced to enable multi-directional folding, then folding versatility increases, but the device structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefolding mannersVSAvoidfolding line configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple folding lines are merged to form notches where they intersect. The first folding line, second folding line, and third folding line converge to create notches that serve as pivot points for multi-directional folding. This merging simplifies the overall structure by using shared notches rather than requiring separate folding mechanisms for each direction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The notches formed by intersecting folding lines serve multiple functions: they act as pivot points for folding, stress distribution points, and geometric constraints that enable various folding configurations. The same notch structure facilitates both single-direction and multi-directional folding operations, reducing the need for additional specialized components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS11287850B2Foldable display device
Publication Date: 2022.03.29 AU OPTRONICS CORP
  • US11287850B2 patent drawing
  • US11287850B2 patent drawing
  • US11287850B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A foldable display device, including a display panel, a pad portion, and a driving element, is provided. The display panel has a display region and a peripheral region connected to at least one side of the display region. The pad portion is disposed in the peripheral region. The driving element is electrically connected to the pad portion. A first display region folding line, extending along a first direction, is provided in the display region to divide the display region into a first sub-display region and a second sub-display region. A first peripheral region folding line and a second peripheral region folding line, extending along a second direction, are parallelly disposed in the peripheral region. A first notch is disposed at a position in the peripheral region. Along the first direction, the first notch has a first folding interval. Along the second direction, the first notch has a second folding interval.