Foldable Display Protective Member with Variable Thickness Layers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Foldable display devices experience repulsive forces during unfolding or folding, which can cause damage to the display panel and window, such as cracking or lifting, due to the transmission of stress and external impacts.
Innovation Solution
A display device design featuring a protective member with a first and second protective layer, where the second protective layer is thinner than the adhesive layer and does not directly contact the optical layer, along with a protective pattern that protrudes from the second protective layer, spaced apart from the optical layer, to absorb and distribute repulsive forces without transmitting them to the display panel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a protective member is disposed on the display panel to protect against external impacts, then the display panel is protected from damage, but the protective member may transmit repulsive forces and cause cracking or lifting of the display panel
Solution Approach 1:
The protective member is divided into multiple protective layers with different thicknesses. The first protective layer has a first thickness and the second protective layer has a second thickness that is less than the first thickness. This segmentation allows the protective member to protect the display panel while the varying thickness absorbs repulsive forces, preventing force transmission that causes cracking or lifting.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the protective member have different thicknesses tailored to their specific functions. The first protective layer in the first area provides stronger protection, while the second protective layer in the second area provides lighter protection. This local quality variation ensures optimal protection while minimizing repulsive force transmission to different areas of the display panel.
2Strength
If the protective member directly contacts the optical layer to provide support, then structural support is improved, but the repulsive force is transmitted to the optical layer causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
An adhesive layer is introduced as an intermediary between the first protective layer and the optical layer. The adhesive layer has a thickness greater than the second thickness of the second protective layer, creating a buffer zone. This intermediary absorbs repulsive forces and prevents direct transmission to the optical layer, while still providing structural support through the protective member assembly.
3Illumination intensity
If the display panel is fully exposed to provide clear display, then display quality is improved, but static electricity generation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The protective member is configured with different thicknesses in different areas, allowing the display area to remain exposed for high display quality while the first area is covered by the protective member to reduce static electricity generation. The second area serves as a transition zone with reduced thickness, maintaining display quality while providing partial protection against static electricity.
Data Source
AI summary
A display device includes a display panel including a display area, a first area spaced apart from the display area, and a second area disposed between the display area and the first area. An optical layer is disposed on the display panel and extends from the display area to a portion of the second area. A protective member includes a first protective layer disposed on the display panel in the first area and a second protective layer disposed on the display panel in the second area and having a thickness less than a thickness of the first protective layer.