Segmented Support Member for Foldable Display Crease Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional foldable display devices face challenges in maintaining structural integrity and impact resistance due to the deformation caused by user interaction, which affects their durability and usability.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a support member with first and second segmental elements having protrusions and depressions for enhanced coupling, along with a base film, to distribute forces and prevent creasing, while allowing for flexible folding and unfolding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a support member with relatively large rigidity is used to prevent deformation of the display panel, then structural stability is improved, but the device becomes less flexible and harder to fold
Solution Approach 1:
The support member is divided into multiple segmental elements (first segmental elements and second segmental elements) that are coupled together through protrusions and depressions. This segmentation allows the support member to maintain rigidity in each segment while enabling flexibility and foldability at the interfaces between segments, resolving the contradiction between structural stability and adaptability.
2Strength
If a rigid support member is used to maintain structural integrity, then impact resistance is improved, but the device cannot be repeatedly folded and unfolded
Solution Approach 1:
The support member is segmented into multiple elements coupled through protrusions and depressions, allowing each segment to maintain structural strength while the overall structure can flex during repeated folding and unfolding operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling mechanism between segmental elements allows the support member to dynamically adapt its rigidity - maintaining rigidity during normal use for impact resistance, and becoming flexible during folding and unfolding operations, enabling repeated use without damage.
3Ease of operation
If the display panel is made flexible to enable folding, then ease of operation is improved, but the panel becomes susceptible to deformation from user touch
Solution Approach 1:
The support member is divided into multiple segmental elements that provide distributed support across the flexible display panel. This segmentation allows the panel to remain flexible for easy folding while the multiple support points resist deformation from user touch and interaction.
Solution Approach 2:
The support member provides localized rigidity at specific points where segmental elements are coupled together, while the overall structure remains flexible. This local quality enhancement allows the display panel to be easily folded while resisting deformation at critical support points.
Data Source
AI summary
A display device includes a display panel including a non-folding area and a foldable area adjacent to the non-folding area, a support member disposed on the display panel and including a flat part overlapping the non-folding area a plurality of first segmental elements overlapping the foldable area, and a plurality of second segmental elements overlapping the foldable area and respectively coupled to the plurality of first segmental elements and a base film disposed on one surface of each of the plurality of first segmental elements and the plurality of second segmental elements.