Foldable Display Support Fabric With Flexible and Rigid Zones
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing foldable display devices face challenges in maintaining surface quality and simplifying manufacturing processes due to the formation of creases and structural complexity when the support members are folded.
Innovation Solution
A display device with a first support member under the display panel, comprising a fabric with a flexible portion overlapping the foldable area and a rigid portion overlapping the non-foldable area, woven differently and containing fiber reinforced plastic, which enhances surface quality and simplifies manufacturing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a uniform support member structure is used across the entire display panel, then manufacturing is simplified, but the foldable area cannot be properly folded without creating creases and the non-foldable area lacks sufficient support
Solution Approach 1:
The support member is divided into multiple regions with different properties: a first region overlapping the foldable area with first support properties allowing folding, and a second region overlapping the non-foldable area with second support properties providing rigid support. This segmentation allows each region to be optimized for its specific function, enabling proper folding in the foldable area while maintaining surface quality in the non-foldable area.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the support member are given different local qualities - the first region has support properties suitable for flexible folding, while the second region has support properties suitable for maintaining rigidity. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by providing appropriate support characteristics in each specific area rather than using a uniform structure throughout.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the support member is made fully flexible to enable folding, then folding is enabled, but the non-foldable area loses structural support and surface stability
Solution Approach 1:
The support member is segmented into a first region with flexible support properties for the foldable area and a second region with rigid support properties for the non-foldable area. This allows the structure to have both flexibility where needed and strength where required, resolving the contradiction between folding capability and structural support.
Solution Approach 2:
Different local qualities are assigned to different regions: the first region has flexible support characteristics enabling folding, while the second region has rigid support characteristics maintaining structural integrity. This local differentiation allows the support member to simultaneously provide folding capability and structural support in appropriate locations.
3Manufacturing precision
If different support members are used for foldable and non-foldable areas, then surface quality is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple support members with different properties are merged into a single integrated support member that contains both the first region with first support properties and the second region with second support properties. This merging approach maintains the manufacturing precision benefits of differentiated support while reducing device complexity by eliminating the need for separate support members.
Solution Approach 2:
The single support member performs multiple functions by incorporating different regions with different support properties - it provides flexible support in the foldable area and rigid support in the non-foldable area. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by achieving differentiated support quality within a single universal component rather than requiring multiple specialized components.
Data Source
AI summary
A display device includes a display panel that includes a foldable area and a non-foldable area adjacent to the foldable area, and a first support member disposed under the display panel. The first support member includes a fabric that includes a flexible portion that overlaps the foldable area and a rigid portion that overlaps the non-foldable area. The rigid portion is woven differently from the flexible portion and contains fiber reinforced plastic.