Foldable Display Support Layers for Crease Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional foldable display devices face challenges in maintaining reliability and minimizing creases due to repetitive folding and unfolding, which can lead to stress concentrations and potential damage to the display panel.
Innovation Solution
A foldable display device design featuring a lower member with distinct support and protective layers, including a cover layer, that are strategically positioned and spaced to absorb stress and prevent creases, with the support layers having different elastic moduli and openings to facilitate flexibility and durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a rigid support layer is used to maintain structural strength, then the display device gains stability, but the device cannot be folded without causing stress concentrations and potential damage
Solution Approach 1:
The support layer is divided into multiple segments including a first support layer and a second support layer, with protective portions spaced apart from each other. This segmentation allows the structure to maintain strength in non-folding areas while enabling flexibility in folding areas, resolving the contradiction between structural strength and folding capability.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the support layer are given different properties: the first and second support portions maintain higher rigidity for structural support, while the first and second protective portions have reduced rigidity (with openings) to accommodate folding. This local differentiation allows the same component to provide both strength and flexibility where needed.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the support layer is made continuous and rigid to prevent deformation, then structural stability is improved, but creases and stress concentrations occur during repetitive folding
Solution Approach 1:
The continuous support layer is segmented into discrete first and second support layers with protective portions spaced apart. This segmentation prevents stress concentration by distributing loads across multiple discrete elements, reducing crease formation during repetitive folding while maintaining overall structural stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective portions incorporate openings (porous structure) that reduce rigidity and allow the material to better accommodate folding stresses. This porous design in the protective portions specifically addresses crease formation while the solid support portions maintain structural stability.
3Strength
If the protective portion has high elastic modulus to resist deformation, then structural support is improved, but the cover layer may tear during folding operations
Solution Approach 1:
The protective portions are designed with different rigidity than the support portions - specifically, the protective portions have openings that reduce their elastic modulus. This local quality differentiation allows the protective portions to flex during folding to prevent cover layer tearing, while the higher-rigidity support portions maintain necessary structural support.
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 design reduces stress during folding, minimizes crease formation, and prevents the cover layer from tearing, thereby enhancing the reliability and longevity of the display device.
Implementation Method 1
a first protective portion extending from the first support portion, corresponding to the folding area, and having an elastic modulus smaller than the first support portion, a second protective portion extending from the second support portion, corresponding to the folding area, and having an elastic modulus smaller than the second support portion
Data Source
AI summary
A display panel comprises a first non-folding area, a second non-folding area, and a folding area between the first non-folding area and the second non-folding area; and a lower member under the display panel, the lower member comprising: a first support layer comprising a first support portion and a first protective portion extending from the first support portion, and having an elastic modulus smaller than the first support portion; a second support layer comprising a second support portion and a second protective portion extending from the second support portion, and having an elastic modulus smaller than the second support portion and spaced apart from the first support layer; and a cover layer under the first support layer and the second support layer, coupled with the first support layer and the second support layer, and corresponding to the first non-folding area, the second non-folding area, and the folding area.