Foldable Display Support Structure with Grooves and Layers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current foldable display devices face challenges in maintaining reliability and preventing creases and tear failures due to repeated folding and unfolding operations, which affect their durability and user experience.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a lower member with a support layer, protection layer, and cover layer structure, featuring grooves and openings in specific regions to distribute stress and enhance flexibility, while using materials like stainless steel and foamed resin layers to absorb impact and dissipate heat, ensuring the display panel's protection and maintaining the folded state effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a rigid support structure is used to maintain structural integrity, then strength is improved, but flexibility and ability to withstand repeated folding deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is divided into multiple layers (first support layer, second support layer, cover layer) with distinct functions. The first and second support layers provide structural support while the cover layer provides protection and flexibility, allowing each layer to be optimized for its specific function rather than requiring the entire structure to be uniformly rigid or flexible
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the support structure have different properties. The first and second support layers are positioned at specific locations to provide support where needed, while the cover layer covers the entire surface to provide uniform protection and flexibility. This local differentiation allows the structure to maintain integrity while accommodating folding movements
2Ease of operation
If the support layer is made thinner to improve flexibility, then ease of folding is improved, but stress concentration and tear failure risk worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The support function is segmented across multiple layers rather than relying on a single thick layer. The first support layer, second support layer, and cover layer work together to distribute stress, allowing each layer to be thinner while collectively providing sufficient support and flexibility
Solution Approach 2:
The support structure uses composite construction with multiple layers of different materials and properties. The first and second support layers provide structural support while the cover layer provides protection and flexibility, creating a composite structure that combines the advantages of different materials to achieve both flexibility and stress distribution
3Reliability
If protective layers are added to prevent tear failures, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The protective function is segmented into specific layers with defined roles. The cover layer provides primary protection against tear failures and external damage, while the first and second support layers provide structural support. This segmentation allows each layer to be optimized for its specific function rather than requiring a single complex multi-functional layer
Solution Approach 2:
The cover layer serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides protection against tear failures, maintains structural integrity, and offers flexibility during folding. By making the cover layer multi-functional, the patent reduces the need for additional separate protective layers, 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 configuration enhances the display device's reliability by reducing stress concentrations, preventing creases and tear failures, and maintaining structural integrity during repeated folding and unfolding operations, thereby improving user experience and device longevity.
Implementation Method 1
featuring grooves and openings in specific regions to distribute stress and enhance flexibility
Implementation Method 2
using materials like stainless steel and foamed resin layers to absorb impact
Implementation Method 3
the heat-dissipation layer may have thermal conductivity that is higher than a thermal conductivity of the cushion layer
Data Source
AI summary
A display device includes a display panel and a lower member. The lower member includes a first support layer, a second support layer, and a cover layer. The first support layer includes a first support portion, a first protection portion extending from the first support portion, and at least one of a first groove and a first opening in a region of the first support portion and a region of the first protection portion. The second support layer includes a second support portion, a second protection portion, and at least one of a second groove and a second opening in a region of the second support portion and a region of the second protection portion. The cover layer is attached to the first support layer and the second support layer and corresponds to the first and second non-folding regions and the folding region.