Foldable Display Transmittance Control via Liquid Crystal Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current display devices lack the ability to dynamically adjust transmittance across their surface, especially when folded, which limits user interaction and visibility of external objects through the display.
Innovation Solution
A display device with a polymer-dispersed liquid crystal layer as a transmission control layer, allowing for adjustable transmittance between 5% and 95% by controlling the alignment of liquid crystals, enabling both image display and external object visibility depending on the device's configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a glass substrate is used in the display device, then the display has high strength and stability, but the display cannot be folded and lacks flexibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional glass substrate with a flexible plastic film substrate, enabling the display to be folded while maintaining structural integrity. The plastic film provides the necessary flexibility for folding applications while supporting the display layers above it.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material parameter of the substrate from rigid glass to flexible plastic, fundamentally altering the mechanical properties to enable folding. This material substitution allows the display to transition from a rigid structure to a flexible, foldable structure.
2Illumination intensity
If the display is made transparent to see external objects, then visibility of external objects improves, but image display quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a transmission control layer with adjustable transmittance that can dynamically switch between transparent and opaque states. This allows the display to adapt its transparency level based on whether it needs to show external objects or display images, resolving the contradiction between transparency and image quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The transmission control layer provides multiple functions: it can control transmittance to enable both transparent display mode (for seeing external objects) and opaque display mode (for high-quality image display). This single component handles both requirements that were previously contradictory.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a transmission control layer is added to adjust transmittance, then transmittance control capability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The transmission control layer serves multiple purposes: it controls transmittance, maintains surface flatness when folded, and enables both transparent and opaque display modes. By consolidating these functions into a single layer, the patent avoids adding multiple separate components that would increase complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The transmission control layer is implemented as a thin film structure that can be integrated into the existing display stack. This thin film approach minimizes the additional thickness and structural complexity while providing the required transmittance control functionality.
4Volume of moving object
If the display is folded inward to save space, then portability improves, but users cannot see images displayed on the surface from the outside
Solution Approach 1:
The transmission control layer can dynamically adjust its transmittance based on the folding state. When the device is folded, the layer can switch to a transparent state, allowing external visibility of images displayed on the inner surface. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between compact folding and external visibility.
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
Enables users to see images displayed on the surface from the outside when folded inward and adjust transmittance for privacy or visibility, enhancing user convenience and interaction with the device.
Implementation Method 1
A transmission control layer may be disposed on the display panel in the second non-folding area. The transmission control layer may include a polymer-dispersed liquid crystal layer
Implementation Method 2
A refractive index anisotropy of the polymer-dispersed liquid crystal layer may be in a range of about 0.1 to about 0.25
Data Source
AI summary
A display device includes a first non-folding area and a second non-folding area, a display panel disposed in the first non-folding area and the second non-folding area, a leveling layer on the display panel in the first non-folding area, a protection window on the leveling layer in the first non-folding area, and a transmission control layer on the display panel in the second non-folding area. A thickness of the transmission control layer is substantially equal to a sum of a thickness of the leveling layer and a thickness of the protection window.