Foldable Display Support Plate Openings for Stress-Relieved Bending
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flexible display devices face challenges in achieving seamless folding due to the rigidity mismatch between the display module and the support part, leading to potential damage and reduced flexibility.
Innovation Solution
A support plate with strategically designed openings and branches under the display panel, allowing for improved flexibility and folding by optimizing the structural integrity and alignment with the display module.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the support part has high rigidity to support the display module, then the structural strength is improved, but the foldability deteriorates due to rigidity mismatch with the flexible display module
Solution Approach 1:
The support plate is divided into multiple segments by creating a grid pattern of openings, which segments the continuous rigid structure into discrete regions. This segmentation allows the support plate to flex and deform more easily during folding while maintaining structural integrity through the remaining solid portions between openings.
Solution Approach 2:
The support plate has non-uniform structural properties created by the grid pattern of openings. The regions with openings provide flexibility and stress relief, while the regions between openings maintain structural strength. This local variation in quality allows different parts of the support plate to serve different functions during folding.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the support plate is made more flexible to enable folding, then the foldability is improved, but the structural integrity deteriorates leading to potential damage
Solution Approach 1:
The support plate incorporates a grid pattern of openings throughout its structure, creating a porous or perforated configuration. This porous structure reduces the overall material continuity, allowing the plate to flex and bend more easily during folding operations while the remaining solid material maintains structural integrity through the grid framework.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the openings in the support plate are made larger to improve flexibility, then the foldability is improved, but the stress concentration increases causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
The grid pattern of openings creates a systematic variation in geometric parameters across the support plate. The regular arrangement and specific dimensions of the openings optimize the balance between flexibility and stress distribution, preventing excessive stress concentration at any single location while maintaining overall flexibility for folding.
Data Source
AI summary
A display device includes a display panel including a first non-folding area, a folding area, and a second non-folding area and a support plate that is disposed under the display panel and that defines a plurality of openings overlapping the folding area and arranged in a first direction and a second direction intersecting the first direction. The support plate includes a first branch disposed between openings adjacent to each other in the second direction among the plurality of openings and a second branch disposed between openings adjacent to each other in the first direction among the plurality of openings. A first width of the first branch in the second direction is smaller than a second width of each of the openings in the second direction.