Foldable Display Window Adhesive Zoning for Easier Replacement
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Foldable displays are susceptible to damage from external impacts, leading to increased replacement costs due to the need to replace the entire display module when the window is damaged, and adhesives used to attach the window can detach from the display due to wear, complicating repairs.
Innovation Solution
A foldable electronic device with a flexible display and a housing featuring a bezel, where the adhesive layer has a first area with a strong adhesive and a second area with a weakened adhesive, allowing easy separation and replacement of the window without replacing the entire display module.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a single strong adhesive is used to bond the window to the display, then the bonding strength is improved, but the ease of repair deteriorates because the entire display module must be replaced when the window is damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The adhesive layer is divided into two distinct areas with different adhesive strengths: a first area with strong adhesive for reliable bonding, and a second area with weak adhesive for easy window removal. This segmentation allows the window to be easily separated from the display module for replacement while maintaining strong bonding in the primary bonding area.
Solution Approach 2:
Different areas of the adhesive layer are assigned different adhesive strengths tailored to their specific functions. The first area (central region) uses strong adhesive to ensure reliable window bonding, while the second area (peripheral region) uses weak adhesive to facilitate easy window removal and replacement, optimizing both bonding and repairability locally.
2Reliability
If a strong adhesive is used to securely attach the window, then the reliability is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates because the window cannot be easily detached for maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The adhesive layer is segmented into a first area with strong adhesive for reliable attachment and a second area with weak adhesive for easy detachment. This segmentation enables the window to remain reliably attached during normal use while allowing simple removal for maintenance and replacement.
Solution Approach 2:
The adhesive layer exhibits local quality differences where the first area provides strong bonding for reliability, while the second area provides weak bonding for ease of detachment. This localized variation in adhesive strength resolves the contradiction between reliable attachment and easy maintenance.
3Reliability
If the adhesive strength is uniformly high across the entire adhesive layer, then the bonding reliability is improved, but the manufacturing precision deteriorates because the adhesive may cause misalignment during assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The adhesive layer is designed with local quality variation, having strong adhesive in the first area for reliable bonding and weak adhesive in the second area that allows slight movement and adjustment during assembly. This weak peripheral adhesive reduces manufacturing precision issues by permitting alignment correction, while the strong central adhesive ensures final bonding reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
According to certain embodiments, a foldable electronic device comprises: a flexible display disposed on a front surface of the foldable electronic device; a housing forming an exterior of the foldable electronic device and foldable around a folding axis, the housing comprising a bezel formed along an edge of the flexible display; a window stacked on the flexible display; and an adhesive layer bonding the window to another element, the adhesive layer comprising: a first area comprising a first adhesive; and a second area which is formed along an edge of the first area, and has an area which corresponds to the bezel, the second area comprising a second adhesive; wherein a strength of the second adhesive can be weakened in a different manner than the strength of the first adhesive.