Foldable Display Spacer Arrangement for Crack Prevention

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Foldable display apparatuses are prone to cracks when repeatedly folded and unfolded, particularly due to the stress applied near the folding axis, which can lead to product damage and operational failure, especially when spacers are densely arranged in a lattice pattern parallel to the folding axis.

Innovation Solution

The display apparatus features spacers arranged in a lattice pattern on the flat portion but not on the folded portion, with a long and narrow shape parallel to the folding axis, and the spacers are either absent or arranged at irregular intervals on the folded portion to reduce stress and prevent crack propagation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If spacers are arranged in a lattice pattern on the folded portion, then deposition mask stability is improved, but crack occurrence and propagation increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedeposition mask stabilityVSAvoidcrack resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different spacer arrangement patterns to different regions of the display apparatus. Specifically, the folded portion has spacers arranged in a non-lattice pattern (such as staggered or irregular arrangements), while the flat portion maintains a lattice pattern. This local differentiation allows the folded portion to resist cracks while the flat portion maintains mask stability during deposition.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the display apparatus into two distinct regions: a folded portion and a flat portion, each with different spacer arrangement characteristics. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each region - the folded portion uses non-lattice patterns to prevent crack propagation, while the flat portion uses lattice patterns for mask stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of manufacture

If spacers are densely arranged in lattice pattern parallel to folding axis, then deposition mask support is improved, but stress concentration and crack propagation increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedeposition mask supportVSAvoidstress concentration

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements location-specific spacer arrangements where the folded portion uses non-lattice patterns (staggered or irregular) to reduce stress concentration, while the flat portion uses dense lattice patterns to provide adequate mask support during the deposition process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of uniformly applying lattice patterns across the entire display apparatus, the patent inverts the approach by using non-lattice patterns in the folded portion where stress concentration is problematic, while reserving lattice patterns for the flat portion where mask support is critical.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS11296300B2Display apparatus and method of manufacturing the same

Publication Date: 2022.04.05 SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO LTD

AI summary

A display apparatus in which spacers are arranged in a lattice pattern on a flat portion of a panel body and are not arranged in a lattice pattern on a folded portion.