Foldable Display Step Compensation with Light Shielding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Foldable display devices face challenges in reducing pattern visibility in folded or bent regions, where structural elements can create visible steps and patterns that detract from the display's aesthetic and functional performance.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a display device design that includes support plates, coupling films, and step compensating members with light shielding layers, which are strategically positioned and structured to minimize the visibility of steps and patterns by filling separation spaces and using materials with specific elastic moduli and light-absorbing properties to prevent light from highlighting these areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If support plates and coupling films are used to maintain display panel stability, then structural support is improved, but visible steps and patterns appear in folded regions
Solution Approach 1:
A step compensating member is introduced as an intermediary component between the support plate and the display panel. This member includes a light shielding layer that masks the step formed by the support plate, thereby hiding the harmful visual effect while allowing the support plate to maintain its structural function. The step compensating member acts as a mediator that resolves the contradiction between providing structural support and preventing visible steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The light shielding layer on the step compensating member uses optical properties (absorbing or blocking light) to change the visual appearance of the step region. By making the step area optically invisible through light shielding, the harmful visual effect is eliminated while the structural support function is preserved.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If step compensating members with light shielding layers are added, then pattern visibility is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The step compensating member combines multiple functions into a single component: it compensates for the step height difference and provides light shielding to hide the step. By merging the step compensation function and the light shielding function into one integrated member, the design reduces overall complexity compared to having separate components for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The step compensating member serves multiple purposes simultaneously: it acts as a structural compensator for the step formed by the support plate, provides optical shielding to hide the step, and maintains the coupling between components. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
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
This design effectively reduces pattern visibility in folded states by minimizing the width of step sections and using light shielding layers to absorb light, thereby enhancing the appearance and functionality of foldable displays.
Implementation Method 1
using light shielding layers to absorb light, thereby enhancing the appearance and functionality of foldable displays
Data Source
AI summary
A display device is provided. The display device includes a display panel including a folding region, first and second non-folding regions at opposite sides of the folding region; a first support plate below the display panel to overlap the first non-folding region and to partially overlap the folding region; a second support plate below the display panel to overlap the second non-folding region and to partially overlap the folding region; a first plate coupling film between the display panel and the first support plate to overlap the first non-folding region; a second plate coupling film between the display panel and the second support plate to overlap the second non-folding region; a first step compensating member between the display panel and the first support plate to overlap the folding region, apart from the first plate coupling film, and including a light shielding layer; and a second step compensating member between the display panel and the second support plate to overlap the folding region, apart from the second plate coupling film, and including a light shielding layer.