Foldable Display Support Substrate Layout for Flex and Impact Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing foldable displays face challenges in achieving satisfactory impact resistance while maintaining flexibility, as previous designs either compromise flexibility or impact resistance due to the presence of step portions in the housing unit and additional layers like inorganic materials or uneven silicone coatings.
Innovation Solution
A foldable display design with a housing unit and flexible display panel, where the support substrate is fixed to the housings, featuring different opening ratios in regions overlapping step and planar portions, and utilizing a cushion layer and adhesive layers to enhance impact resistance and flexibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If openings are provided in the back plate or flexible frame to improve flexibility, then flexibility is improved, but impact resistance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The support substrate is designed with spatially varying opening ratios: a first region overlapping the step portion has a first opening ratio, while a second region overlapping the planar portion has a second opening ratio that is larger than the first. This local differentiation allows the structure to maintain flexibility where needed while providing impact resistance in critical areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The support substrate combines regions with different opening ratios to create a composite structure that exhibits both flexible and impact-resistant properties in different locations, optimizing overall performance.
2Strength
If an additional inorganic material layer is provided to protect the bent portion, then impact resistance is improved, but flexibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of applying a uniform protective layer across the entire structure, the invention varies the opening ratio locally in the support substrate. The first region with lower opening ratio provides protection where needed, while the second region with higher opening ratio maintains flexibility.
3Strength
If a silicone layer is provided to fill the openings, then impact resistance is improved, but flexibility deteriorates and manufacturing precision is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses selective opening ratio design in different regions of the support substrate rather than uniformly filling all openings with silicone. This local differentiation achieves impact resistance in critical areas while preserving flexibility elsewhere.
Data Source
AI summary
A foldable display includes a housing unit including a hinge member, and a first housing and a second housing coupled via the hinge member, and a flexible display panel including a flexible display layer and a support substrate. The support substrate includes a third portion between a first portion and a second portion of the support substrate. The third portion of the support substrate includes, in a first state, a first region overlapping a at least one step portion and a second region overlapping a planar portion. A first ratio of volume of openings of an opening group in the first region to volume of the first region in the first region of the support substrate is lower than a second ratio of volume of openings of an opening group in the second region to volume of the second region in the second region of the support substrate.