Lightweight Display Support Plate With Flexible Folding Section

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing display devices, particularly flexible ones, face challenges in being easily foldable and lightweight due to structural limitations.

Innovation Solution

A display device design incorporating a support plate with a flat and flexible portion, linked by bars, which can be folded and accommodated within a case, using plastic materials to reduce weight and enhance foldability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a rigid support structure is used to maintain structural support, then strength is improved, but weight increases and foldability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural supportVSAvoidweight
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The support plate is divided into a flat portion and a flexible portion with distinct functions. The flat portion provides structural support while the flexible portion enables folding, allowing the structure to be segmented into support-functional and movement-functional zones that can operate independently.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the support plate have different material properties: the flat portion uses a first material optimized for strength and support, while the flexible portion uses a second material optimized for flexibility and low elastic modulus, enabling each region to perform its specific function efficiently.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Strength

If a rigid support structure is used to maintain structural support, then strength is improved, but ease of folding deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural supportVSAvoidease of folding
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The support plate is divided into a flat portion and a flexible portion with distinct functions. The flat portion provides structural support while the flexible portion enables folding, allowing the structure to be segmented into support-functional and movement-functional zones that can operate independently.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the support plate have different material properties: the flat portion uses a first material optimized for strength and support, while the flexible portion uses a second material optimized for flexibility and low elastic modulus, enabling each region to perform its specific function efficiently.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Weight of moving object

If plastic materials are used to reduce weight, then weight is reduced, but strength deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveweightVSAvoidstructural support
Core Design Contradiction:
Weight of moving objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

Different regions of the support plate have different material properties: the flat portion uses a first material optimized for strength and support, while the flexible portion uses a second material optimized for flexibility and low elastic modulus, enabling each region to perform its specific function efficiently.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The support plate uses composite construction with at least two different materials: a first material for the flat portion providing structural strength, and a second material for the flexible portion providing flexibility. This composite approach allows the structure to achieve both strength and flexibility requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The design allows for easy folding and accommodation of the display module, maintaining structural support while reducing weight by using non-metallic materials, facilitating both default and extended modes of operation.

Implementation Method 1

a flexible portion that extends from the flat portion and that is folded such that a portion is disposed under the flat portion, the flexible portion being folded about a folding axis extending in one direction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

the flexible portion having a lower elastic modulus than the flat portion

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic modulus difference: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP4629217A1Display device
Publication Date: 2025.10.08 SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO LTD
  • EP4629217A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4629217A1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4629217A1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Disclosed is a display device which includes a display module, a support plate that is disposed on a rear surface of the display module and that includes a flat portion and a flexible portion that extends from the flat portion and that is folded such that a portion is disposed under the flat portion, the flexible portion being folded about a folding axis extending in one direction, and a plurality of link bars that are disposed on both side surfaces of the flexible portion opposite to each other in the one direction and that protrude in the one direction.