Patterned Glass Protective Layer for Flexible Display Stress Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flexible display devices face challenges in maintaining folding reliability due to stress concentrations and material deformations during folding and unfolding operations.
Innovation Solution
The proposed display device incorporates a patterned glass with a specific arrangement of non-patterned and patterned portions, a protective layer with a controlled elastic modulus, and a window adhesive layer with varying thickness and elastic modulus, all designed to enhance folding reliability by managing stress distribution and material deformation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a rigid protective layer is used to protect the display panel, then protection performance is improved, but folding reliability deteriorates due to stress concentration and material deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The protective layer's elastic modulus is changed from a fixed high value to a variable distribution pattern. The first non-patterned portion has a first elastic modulus value, the patterned portion has a second elastic modulus value, and the second non-patterned portion has a third elastic modulus value. This parameter variation allows the protective layer to balance protection performance with folding flexibility, reducing stress concentration during folding while maintaining overall structural strength.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the protective layer are assigned different elastic modulus values based on their functional requirements. The patterned portion (with lower elastic modulus) is located in the folding region to accommodate deformation, while the non-patterned portions (with higher elastic modulus) are in the non-folding regions to provide structural support and protection. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction between overall protection and localized flexibility.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the elastic modulus of the protective layer is increased to prevent deformation, then structural stability is improved, but folding flexibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic modulus parameter is varied spatially across the protective layer rather than being uniformly high. By setting the patterned portion with a lower elastic modulus (second value) compared to the non-patterned portions (first and third values), the structure achieves both stability in non-folding regions and flexibility in the folding region, resolving the contradiction between structural stability and folding flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective layer is segmented into distinct regions with different mechanical properties: first non-patterned portion, patterned portion, and second non-patterned portion. Each segment serves a specific function - the non-patterned segments provide structural stability while the patterned segment provides folding flexibility. This segmentation allows the single protective layer to simultaneously achieve both structural stability and folding flexibility.
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 the folding reliability of the display device by preventing deformation and cracking of the protective layer, ensuring consistent performance across multiple folding cycles.
Implementation Method 1
the protective layer has an elastic modulus in a predetermined range, a maximum value of an elastic modulus of the protective layer is constant, and a minimum value thereof varies in proportion to a thickness of the first window adhesive layer
Implementation Method 2
a first window adhesive layer disposed between the patterned glass and the protective layer
Implementation Method 3
an elastic modulus of the lower film is in inverse proportion to a change rate of a length of the protective film in the first direction before folding and after folding
Data Source
AI summary
A display device includes a display panel, a patterned glass disposed on the display panel, where the patterned glass includes a first non-patterned portion, a patterned portion, and a second non-patterned portion which sequentially are arranged in a first direction, a protective layer disposed on the patterned glass, and a first window adhesive layer disposed between the patterned glass and the protective layer. The protective layer has an elastic modulus in a predetermined range, a maximum value of an elastic modulus of the protective layer is constant, and a minimum value thereof varies in proportion to a thickness of the first window adhesive layer.