Foldable Display Window Edge Extension for Impact Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing foldable display devices lack sufficient impact resistance, which can lead to damage from physical stress such as bending or collisions.
Innovation Solution
A foldable display device design that includes a display module with a flexible display panel, a window made of flexible material, and a support plate, where the display module has defined folding and non-folding regions, and a protruding part to enhance structural integrity and impact resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a foldable display device uses a flexible display panel and window without additional support structures, then the device achieves flexibility and ease of folding, but the impact resistance is insufficient leading to damage from physical stress
Solution Approach 1:
The display module is segmented into distinct functional regions: a folding region that enables bending, and multiple non-folding regions (first and second edge regions) that provide structural support. This segmentation allows the device to maintain flexibility where needed while reinforcing areas susceptible to impact damage.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the display module are given different structural properties. The non-folding regions are designed with extended window end surfaces that protrude beyond the display panel edges, creating locally reinforced zones with enhanced impact resistance, while the folding region maintains flexibility for bending operations.
2Strength
If the window end surface is extended beyond the display panel in the second edge region, then impact resistance is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase due to alignment constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The window is designed with pre-determined extended end surfaces that protrude beyond the display panel in specific non-folding regions. This preliminary structural design establishes the impact resistance enhancement before assembly, ensuring that the protective extension is inherently integrated into the device architecture rather than being added as a separate corrective measure.
3Strength
If support plates are added under the display module to enhance impact resistance, then the protective capability is improved, but the weight of the device increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of adding support elements in the vertical dimension (which would increase weight), the invention extends the window structure in the horizontal dimension beyond the display panel edges. This dimensional shift provides impact protection through lateral extension of the protective window surface rather than through vertical reinforcement, avoiding additional weight while maintaining protective functionality.
Data Source
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AI summary
A display device includes a display module (DM) and at least one support plate (SM1, SM2). The display module includes a display panel and a window disposed on the display panel and including a flexible material. In the display module, a folding region (FA) foldable about a folding axis and a plurality of non-folding (NFA1, NFA2) regions adjacent to sides of the folding region are defined on a plane. In a first edge region (SS1, SS2, SS3) of the display module, a first end surface of the display panel and a first end surface of the window are substantially aligned with each other, in a second edge region (PP1, PP2, PP3) of the display module, a second end surface of the window extends beyond a second end surface of the display panel.