Foldable Display Light Shielding Layout for Static Discharge

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing display devices face challenges in enhancing visibility and effectively managing static electricity, particularly in foldable designs, which can affect their performance and durability.

Innovation Solution

A foldable display device with a display panel, a support member, and a light shielding layer containing a light shielding material, where the light shielding layer has a total planar area less than the support member, and is applied with a light shielding adhesive layer to enhance visibility and protect against static electricity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If a light shielding layer is applied to the entire support member, then visibility is improved, but static electricity discharge is not effectively prevented

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovevisibilityVSAvoidstatic electricity protection
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The light shielding layer is selectively applied only to specific areas of the support member where light shielding is needed, while leaving other areas exposed to prevent static electricity discharge. This local differentiation allows the support member to simultaneously provide light shielding functionality and static electricity protection functionality without requiring full coverage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the light shielding layer covers the entire support member, then light shielding effectiveness is improved, but the support member cannot discharge static electricity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight shielding effectivenessVSAvoidstatic electricity discharge
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The support member is divided into different functional areas: a first area covered by the light shielding layer for light shielding, and a second area exposed without the light shielding layer for static electricity discharge. This segmentation allows each area to perform its specific function independently, resolving the conflict between light shielding effectiveness and static electricity discharge capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Area of stationary object

If the light shielding layer is made larger to cover more area, then visibility is enhanced, but the risk of static electricity damage increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight shielding coverage areaVSAvoidstatic electricity damage risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of uniformly covering the entire support member, the light shielding layer is applied locally only to areas where light shielding is required. This localized application maximizes light shielding coverage where needed while maintaining exposed areas that can discharge static electricity, thus balancing visibility enhancement with damage risk reduction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution improves visibility and effectively reduces the impact of static electricity, ensuring enhanced performance and durability of foldable display devices.

Implementation Method 1

a light shielding layer on the support member and containing a light shielding material

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight shielding: Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 2

capable of removing static electricity applied from outside the display device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectStatic electricity discharge: Electrostatic Discharge

Data Source

PatentEP4170462B1Display device and method of providing the same
Publication Date: 2026.05.20 SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO LTD
  • EP4170462B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP4170462B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP4170462B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

A display device includes a display panel including a folding area and a non-folding area which is adjacent to the folding area, a support member facing the folding area and the non-folding area of the display panel and having a total planar area, and a light shielding layer between the display panel and the support member and having a total planar area which is smaller than the total planar area of the support member.