Metal Support and Light-Shielding Cover Layers for Foldable Displays

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electronic devices face challenges in improving display efficiency while preventing external light from entering and enhancing impact resistance, particularly in devices with flexible or foldable designs.

Innovation Solution

The electronic device incorporates a window, display panel, support member, cover layer, and adhesive layer, all of which include light shielding materials, with the support member being a metal plate and the cover layer being flexible, to prevent external light and enhance impact resistance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If a transparent cover layer is used to maintain display visibility, then display efficiency is improved, but external light can enter and reduce display quality

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay efficiencyVSAvoidexternal light intrusion
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by differentiating the optical properties of different layers: the window layer maintains transparency for visibility, while the adhesive layer and cover layer contain light shielding materials (carbon black) in specific regions to block external light. This localized differentiation allows simultaneous achievement of display efficiency and external light prevention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses composite materials by combining transparent polymers (acrylic resin, polyurethane resin) with light shielding materials (carbon black) in the adhesive layer and cover layer. This composite structure enables both transparency for display visibility and light blocking for external light prevention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Strength

If a rigid structure is used to improve impact resistance, then strength is improved, but flexibility and foldability are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimpact resistanceVSAvoidflexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs flexible shells and thin films by using flexible polymers (acrylic resin, polyurethane resin, thermoplastic polyurethane resin) as the base material for the adhesive layer and cover layer. These flexible films provide both impact resistance through their structural integrity and flexibility through their material properties, enabling the device to be folded or bent.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses composite materials by combining flexible polymer matrices with carbon black light shielding materials. This composite structure maintains the flexibility of the polymer while adding impact resistance and light blocking functionality, resolving the contradiction between rigidity and flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Object-affected harmful factors

If light shielding materials are added to block external light, then external light prevention is improved, but display brightness may be reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveexternal light blockingVSAvoiddisplay brightness
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by placing light shielding materials (carbon black) specifically in the adhesive layer and cover layer, while keeping the window layer transparent. This localized positioning ensures external light blocking where needed without interfering with the display brightness in the active viewing area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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

This configuration improves display efficiency by blocking external light and enhances impact resistance, ensuring the device's structural integrity and performance in flexible or foldable states.

Implementation Method 1

Each of the adhesive layer and the cover layer includes a light shielding material

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight shielding: Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 2

the first functional group included in the light shielding material and a second functional group included in the cover base material are chemically bonded

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectChemical bonding: Chemical Bonding

Data Source

PatentEP4002507B1Electronic device
Publication Date: 2025.09.17 SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO LTD
  • EP4002507B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP4002507B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP4002507B1 patent drawingFigure 2A

AI summary

Disclosed is an electronic device (1000) including a window (340), a display panel (100) disposed under the window (340), a support member (610) disposed under the display panel (100), a cover layer (630) disposed under the support member (610), and an adhesive layer (620) disposed between the support member (610) and the cover layer (630). Each of the adhesive layer (620) and the cover layer (630) includes a light shielding material.