Folding Display Support Member Lattice and Shape Holding Portion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Flexible display devices face challenges in maintaining their shape and preventing wrinkles when folded due to the deformation of support members with lattice portions and holes, which affects their folding and unfolding capabilities.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a support member structure that includes a lattice portion with holes and a shape holding portion adjacent to the lattice portion, which overlaps the folding portion, helps maintain the shape of the support member and prevents deformation, thereby reducing wrinkles on the display surface.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a support member with lattice portion and holes is used to enable folding, then flexibility is improved, but shape stability deteriorates causing wrinkles

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefolding capabilityVSAvoidshape stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The support member is divided into a lattice portion with holes for flexibility and a separate shape holding portion for stability. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function: the lattice portion enables folding while the shape holding portion prevents wrinkles by maintaining structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the support member are given different properties. The lattice portion has high flexibility with holes for bending, while the shape holding portion has high rigidity to maintain shape. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between overall flexibility and local shape stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Adaptability or versatility

If the support member is deformed to enable folding, then flexibility is improved, but display quality deteriorates due to wrinkles

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefolding capabilityVSAvoidwrinkles on display surface
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The support member is segmented into functional regions: the lattice portion that deforms during folding and the shape holding portion that remains stable. This segmentation isolates the deformation to specific areas, preventing wrinkles from forming on the display surface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The shape holding portion acts as an intermediary element between the deformable lattice portion and the display module. It mediates the folding action by absorbing deformation stresses and preventing them from transferring to the display surface, thus avoiding wrinkles.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If holes are added to the support part for flexibility, then folding capability is improved, but structural strength deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefolding capabilityVSAvoidstructural strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The support member is divided into a lattice portion with holes for flexibility and a shape holding portion without holes for strength. This segmentation compensates for the strength loss in the lattice portion by providing a robust shape holding portion that maintains overall structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Holes are locally distributed only in the lattice portion where flexibility is needed, while the shape holding portion maintains solid structure for strength. This local differentiation optimizes the strength-flexibility balance by placing holes only where they are functionally required.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP4016241B1Display device
Publication Date: 2025.04.02 SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO LTD
  • EP4016241B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4016241B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4016241B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A display device includes a display part including a first flat portion, a second flat portion spaced apart from the first flat portion in a first direction, and a folding portion disposed between the first flat portion and the second flat portion, and a support part disposed under the display part and including a lattice portion and a shape holding portion. Holes are disposed in the lattice portion, the shape holding portion is adjacent to the lattice portion in a second direction intersecting the first direction, and the lattice portion and the shape holding portion overlap the folding portion.