Foldable Support Plate Structure for Low-Stress Flexible Displays

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing foldable electronic devices face challenges in mechanical stability, anti-extrusion performance, and bending performance, which can be exacerbated by methods aimed at improving these aspects, such as increased weight and radio frequency interference.

Innovation Solution

A foldable support plate with a first support portion, a foldable support portion, and a first transition support portion featuring through grooves and local plating, designed to enhance mechanical stability and reduce bending stress, while maintaining a large folding radius and minimizing space between support portions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If methods are introduced to improve mechanical stability and bending performance, then the anti-extrusion performance and bending performance are improved, but the total weight of the foldable electronic device increases and radio frequency performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemechanical stabilityVSAvoidtotal weight

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The support plate is divided into multiple regions with different structural characteristics: a first support portion, a second support portion, and a foldable support portion connecting them. The foldable support portion contains through grooves that segment the material, allowing localized flexibility while maintaining overall structural integrity. This segmentation enables the device to achieve good mechanical stability without requiring excessive material throughout the entire support plate, thus avoiding unnecessary weight increase.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The support plate implements local quality by providing different structural properties in different regions. The first and second support portions have solid continuous structure for high strength and stability, while the foldable support portion has through grooves for flexibility and bending capability. This localized structural differentiation allows each region to perform its specific function optimally without compromising the overall device weight, as material is only added where structurally necessary.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Volume of moving object

If the folding radius is reduced to make the device more compact, then the space occupied is reduced, but the bending stress increases and the service life decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespace occupiedVSAvoidservice life

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The foldable support portion is designed with an optimized curvature radius that balances compactness and stress reduction. The through grooves in the foldable support portion are arranged to facilitate controlled bending along a specific curvature path. This curved structural design allows the device to achieve a compact folded state while distributing bending stress evenly along the curvature, preventing stress concentration that would otherwise occur with sharper folds, thereby extending the service life of the flexible display.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Ease of manufacture

If space between support portions is increased to accommodate components, then component placement is easier, but small objects can fall into the space and damage the flexible display

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomponent placementVSAvoidobject intrusion risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The support plate structure implements a nested design where the foldable support portion with through grooves creates a series of nested cavities and recesses. These nested structures provide designated spaces for accommodating components while maintaining overall structural continuity. The through grooves themselves act as nested features that can house small components or wiring, eliminating the need for large open spaces that would be vulnerable to object intrusion, thus protecting the flexible display while facilitating component placement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentEP4276805B1Foldable support plate, flexible screen module and foldable electronic device

Publication Date: 2026.01.28 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD

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AI summary

This application provides a foldable support plate, a flexible display module, and a foldable electronic device. A through groove may be disposed in a foldable region of the foldable support plate, and a blind groove may be disposed near the foldable region. The through groove may be a dumbbell-shaped through groove. A base of the foldable support plate may be made of a plurality of materials. Different materials may correspond to different regions of the foldable support plate. Local plating of the foldable support plate may include nickel sulfamate plating and gold plating. An electroplated groove may be disposed in a region corresponding to the local plating. The solutions of this application help take into account lightweight, mechanical stability, electromagnetic performance, thermal conductivity, and the like of the foldable electronic device.