Foldable Window With Segmented Protrusions For Impact Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Flexible electronic devices with foldable displays face challenges in maintaining mechanical properties and impact resistance while folding, as existing windows do not adequately protect the display panel without compromising folding operations.
Innovation Solution
A window design featuring a folding portion with protrusion portions and a non-folding portion, where the folding portion has a smaller width than the non-folding portions, and a protrusion protective layer, enhancing both folding characteristics and impact resistance by strategically positioning the protrusion portions and protective layer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a conventional window structure is used to protect the display panel, then impact resistance is improved, but folding characteristics deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The window is divided into multiple independent portions: a first non-folding portion, a folding portion with protrusion portions, and a second non-folding portion. This segmentation allows different regions to serve different functions - the non-folding portions provide impact resistance while the folding portion enables seamless folding operations.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the window have different structural properties. The non-folding portions maintain full width for protection, while the folding portion has reduced width and includes protrusion portions that create concave regions. This local differentiation optimizes both impact resistance and folding characteristics in respective regions.
2Ease of operation
If the window width is reduced to improve folding characteristics, then folding capability is improved, but mechanical properties deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The window structure segments the width reduction to only the folding portion while maintaining full width in non-folding portions. This allows the folding area to have optimized dimensions for seamless folding, while the non-folding portions retain sufficient width to maintain mechanical strength and impact resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The window applies different width characteristics to different regions: the folding portion has a smaller width in the first direction to enable flexibility, while the non-folding portions maintain larger width for structural integrity. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction between folding capability and mechanical properties.
3Ease of operation
If protrusion portions are added to the folding portion, then folding characteristics are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The folding portion is segmented into multiple protrusion portions spaced apart in the second direction, creating distinct concave regions between them. This segmentation provides multiple folding pathways and enhances folding characteristics while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure that can be manufactured using conventional techniques.
Solution Approach 2:
The protrusion portions are localized to the folding region and do not extend into the non-folding portions. This local addition of structural features improves folding characteristics without significantly increasing overall device complexity, as the protrusion portions can be integrated into the existing window manufacturing process.
Data Source
AI summary
A window includes a folding portion foldable with respect to an imaginary folding axis extending in a first direction, a first non-folding portion, and a second non-folding portion spaced apart from the first non-folding portion in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction with the folding portion interposed therebetween. The folding portion includes a base portion and a plurality of protrusion portions disposed on the base portion and spaced apart from each other in the second direction. A width, in the first direction, of the folding portion is smaller than a width, in the first direction, of each of the first non-folding portion and the second non-folding portion.