Foldable Display Support Plate With Slits for Circuit Board Stress Relief

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing deformable display devices face reliability issues due to deformation-induced defects in circuit boards when bent or folded.

Innovation Solution

A display device design featuring a support plate with slits and openings, combined with a flexible circuit board and an adhesive layer, which reduces stress on the circuit board during folding by allowing it to be loosely adhered to the support plate, minimizing damage and visibility of the opening patterns.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a rigid support plate is used to provide structural strength, then the strength of the display device is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to stress concentration on circuit boards during folding

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidcircuit board reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The support plate features a patterned structure with openings and recesses that create locally varied mechanical properties. Areas with openings reduce stress concentration, while solid areas provide structural support, allowing different regions of the support plate to have different functional characteristics optimized for their specific locations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The support plate is divided into multiple regions through the patterned openings and recesses, creating a segmented structure that distributes stress more evenly across the circuit board areas, preventing stress concentration that would occur in a fully rigid continuous plate

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Stability of the object's composition

If the support plate is made completely rigid to maintain structural integrity, then the structural integrity is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to stress on circuit boards during deformation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidcircuit board reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The support plate incorporates flexible design elements through its patterned structure with openings and recesses, allowing it to flex and deform along with the circuit boards during folding, rather than maintaining complete rigidity that would cause stress concentration and potential failure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Strength

If circuit boards are placed directly on the support plate without openings, then the structural support is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to stress concentration during folding

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural supportVSAvoidcircuit board reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patterned openings and recesses in the support plate are designed in advance to coincide with circuit board locations, providing stress relief zones before folding occurs, preventing stress concentration and potential damage to the circuit boards during deformation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Data Source

PatentEP3865936B1Display device
Publication Date: 2026.04.29 SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO LTD
  • EP3865936B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3865936B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3865936B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A display device includes a display panel including a front surface and a rear surface, a first circuit board electrically connected to a first side of the display panel, a second circuit board electrically connected to a second side opposite to the first side of the display panel, a third circuit board disposed on the rear surface and electrically connected to the first circuit board and the second circuit board, the third circuit board extending in a first direction, and a support plate disposed on the rear surface. The display panel is foldable along a folding line extending in a second direction. The support plate has a first opening extending along the folding line, and an opening pattern near a portion of the first opening. The third circuit board overlaps the portion of the first opening. The opening pattern includes slits and the third circuit board overlaps the slits.