Foldable Display Through-Hole Geometry for Sensor Clearance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Foldable display devices experience interference between optical sensors and components due to component slip when folded or unfolded, which can be exacerbated by through-holes, and increasing the through-hole size to prevent interference reduces the display area.
Innovation Solution
A display device with a through-hole that widens from one surface of the display module to another, allowing components to slip without increasing the through-hole size, thus preventing or reducing interference between optical sensors and components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the through-hole size is increased to prevent interference between optical sensor and components due to slip, then the interference is reduced, but the display area is decreased
Solution Approach 1:
The through-hole is designed with a tapered structure where the breadth increases from the first surface toward the second surface of the display module. This dimensional change along the thickness direction allows the optical sensor to be positioned with clearance from lateral components without requiring a larger hole opening at the display surface, thus maintaining display area while preventing interference
Solution Approach 2:
The through-hole exhibits non-uniform breadth along its length, being narrower at the display surface and wider at the rear surface. This local variation in geometry provides sufficient clearance space for the optical sensor at the rear while minimizing the visible opening at the front, resolving the conflict between sensor positioning and display area
2Ease of operation
If components are allowed to slip during folding to accommodate stress, then folding smoothness is improved, but interference between optical sensor and components increases
Solution Approach 1:
By increasing the through-hole breadth in the thickness direction rather than at the display surface, the design creates a three-dimensional clearance zone that allows components to move laterally during folding without the optical sensor contacting them, enabling smooth folding while preventing interference
Data Source
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AI summary
A display device including: a sensor device; a display module to display an image and having a first through-hole in which the sensor device is positioned; and a bottom panel cover on one surface of the display module and having a second through-hole in which the sensor device is positioned. The first through-hole has breadth that increases from the one surface of the display module toward another surface of the display module opposite to the one surface of the display module.