Foldable Display Support Plate With Variable Stiffness for Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Flexible display devices that can be folded multiple times experience deformation at folding regions due to various factors, leading to structural instability.
Innovation Solution
A display device design featuring a support plate with a first folding plate having different stiffness regions, including a curved portion and reverse curvature portions with varying stiffness, to prevent deformation during folding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the support plate is made rigid to maintain structural stability, then the display device cannot be folded multiple times, but if it is made flexible to enable folding, then deformation occurs at folding regions
Solution Approach 1:
The support plate is divided into multiple plates (first support plate, second support plate) and folding plates (first folding plate, second folding plate) that can be folded relative to each other along folding axes. This segmentation allows the display device to be folded while maintaining structural stability through the coordinated movement of discrete components.
Solution Approach 2:
The folding plates have different stiffness characteristics in different regions. The first and second folding plates have first and second stiffness respectively, allowing certain regions to be more flexible for folding while other regions maintain rigidity for structural support. This local variation in mechanical properties enables both folding capability and structural stability.
2Ease of operation
If the folding regions are made flexible to enable folding, then the display device can be folded, but the folding regions deform due to various factors
Solution Approach 1:
The stiffness of the folding plates is carefully controlled and differentiated. The first folding plate has a first stiffness and the second folding plate has a second stiffness, allowing optimization of the folding operation while minimizing deformation. By adjusting these mechanical parameters, the device achieves ease of folding while maintaining shape accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The support structure uses composite construction with multiple plates and folding elements having different mechanical properties. This composite structure enables the folding regions to be flexible enough for easy folding operation while resistant to deformation through the combined mechanical characteristics of the composite assembly.
3Ease of manufacture
If the support plate structure is simplified to reduce complexity, then manufacturing is easier, but deformation control in folding regions becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The support plate is segmented into multiple discrete plates and folding elements that can be manufactured separately and then assembled. This segmentation simplifies the manufacturing of individual components while the assembled structure provides the complex deformation control needed for reliable folding regions.
Solution Approach 2:
The multi-plate composite structure achieves reliable deformation control through the combination of simpler individual components. Each plate and folding element can be manufactured with standard processes, but their composite arrangement provides the sophisticated mechanical behavior needed for stable folding regions.
Data Source
AI summary
A display device includes: a display module; and a support plate disposed below the display module and including a first support plate, a second support plate, and a first folding plate disposed between the first support plate and the second support plate, where the first folding plate includes: a curved portion; a first reverse curvature portion disposed between the first support plate and the curved portion; and a second reverse curvature portion disposed between the second support plate and the curved portion, and a stiffness of the first reverse curvature portion is different from a stiffness of the second reverse curvature portion.