Foldable Display Optical Element with Zigzag Grooves
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Solution Overview
Problem
Foldable display devices face challenges in minimizing stress and impact during folding, which can lead to damage, and existing solutions do not effectively enhance scratch resistance and optical transparency without increasing the overall thickness.
Innovation Solution
A foldable display device design featuring a panel assembly divided into folding and non-folding areas, with an optical element having zigzag grooves on its surface and a high-adhesiveness adhesive layer between the optical element and the cover window, allowing for stress reduction and improved flexibility, scratch resistance, and impact resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a glass cover window is used to protect against fragments, then impact resistance is improved, but the device thickness increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional glass cover window with a flexible polymer film that has enhanced mechanical properties. This thin film provides sufficient impact resistance and scratch resistance while maintaining flexibility for folding, thereby avoiding the thickness increase that would result from using glass.
2Length of stationary object
If the optical element is made thinner to reduce device thickness, then device thickness is reduced, but scratch resistance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a composite polymer film structure with multiple layers having different functions. The composite material provides enhanced scratch resistance and mechanical strength while maintaining thin thickness, resolving the contradiction between thickness reduction and scratch resistance improvement.
3Strength
If adhesive strength is increased to improve bonding, then bonding strength is improved, but stress concentration during folding increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies adhesive only in specific localized regions rather than uniformly across the entire optical element surface. This localized adhesive application maintains sufficient bonding strength while reducing overall stress concentration during folding operations, as the adhesive is placed strategically to minimize stress points.
Data Source
AI summary
In a foldable display device according to an embodiment, a groove with a zigzag pattern is formed on a surface of an optical element. The optical element is bonded using an adhesive layer having a low modulus to mitigate stress and impact due to folding in a folding area of the device.According to an embodiment, a foldable display device includes: a panel assembly divided into a folding area and a non-folding area; and an optical element on the panel assembly including grooves with a zigzag pattern patterned on an upper surface of the optical element.