Foldable Display Panel Support with Segmented Curved Units
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Solution Overview
Problem
Foldable display devices face stress and potential damage when folded due to the inherent material limitations of flexible display panels, particularly those made with inorganic materials, which can lead to reduced lifespan if excessive bending occurs.
Innovation Solution
A novel panel supporter structure featuring a first multi-joint member, a complex support unit, and a second multi-joint member, with alternately arranged flat and curved support units that allow for a natural curvature in the bendable area, minimizing stress and preventing damage by distributing the bending force evenly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the flexible display panel is folded, then the device is portable and compact, but stress and potential damage occur due to material limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is divided into multiple segments including a first multi-joint member, a complex support unit with multiple flat support units and curved support units, and a second multi-joint member. These segmented components work together to distribute and manage the stress during folding, preventing concentrated stress points that would damage the panel.
Solution Approach 2:
The curved support units are specifically designed with curved surfaces that match the natural curvature of the bendable area during folding. This curvature alignment allows the panel to fold along its natural stress lines, minimizing internal stress and preventing damage while maintaining portability.
2Reliability
If the bending degree is reduced to protect the panel, then panel lifespan is extended, but the folding capability is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure incorporates joints and linkages that dynamically adjust the support configuration based on the folding state. When folded, the structure adapts to provide optimal support at the required bending degree, and when unfolded, it transitions to a flat support configuration, enabling both extended lifespan and full folding capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The curved support units change their effective support parameters (position, angle, and contact point) according to the folding degree. This dynamic parameter adjustment ensures the panel always folds at the optimal curvature that minimizes stress, thereby extending lifespan while maintaining versatile folding capability.
3Device complexity
If a simple support structure is used, then device complexity is reduced, but stress distribution is insufficient causing panel damage
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is divided into multiple segments including a first multi-joint member, a complex support unit with multiple flat support units and curved support units, and a second multi-joint member. These segmented components work together to distribute and manage the stress during folding, preventing concentrated stress points that would damage the panel.
Data Source
AI summary
A foldable display device includes a flexible display panel including a bendable area; and a first supporter including a first multi-joint member, a complex support unit, and a second multi-joint member consecutively arranged in a first direction, and supporting the bendable area, and the complex support unit includes: a flat support unit combined to the first multi-joint member and the second multi-joint member in a rotatable manner with respect to a combination axis in parallel to a second direction crossing the first direction; and a curved support unit neighboring the flat support unit in the second direction and combined to the first multi-joint member and the second multi-joint member such that a rising height of the curved support unit changes in a third direction according to a rotation state of the flat support unit relative to the first multi-joint member and the second multi-joint member.