Patterned Glass Window for Foldable Display Flexibility and Impact Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flexible display devices face challenges in achieving both flexibility and impact resistance, particularly when using glass materials in foldable areas, as conventional glass structures can lead to cracking and damage during folding.
Innovation Solution
A patterned glass design is implemented with a thinner pattern portion and a thicker non-pattern portion, formed through laser patterning and etching, to enhance flexibility and impact resistance, allowing the glass window to be folded without damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional glass structures are used in foldable areas, then impact resistance is improved, but flexibility deteriorates leading to cracking and damage during folding
Solution Approach 1:
The glass window is segmented into different thickness regions: a first thickness region in the non-folding area and a second thickness region in the folding area, where the second thickness is less than the first thickness. This segmentation allows the glass to have sufficient strength for impact resistance in non-folding areas while providing flexibility in the folding area to prevent cracking during folding operations.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the glass window are assigned different thickness characteristics tailored to their specific functional requirements. The non-folding area uses thicker glass for enhanced impact resistance, while the folding area uses thinner glass to enable flexibility and bending without damage. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between strength and flexibility.
2Ease of manufacture
If uniform thickness glass is used throughout, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but folding durability deteriorates due to stress concentration in thin regions
Solution Approach 1:
The glass window is divided into distinct thickness regions corresponding to different functional areas. The manufacturing process incorporates laser patterning and etching to create the first thickness region in non-folding areas and the second thickness region in folding areas, achieving region-specific thickness control that enhances folding durability while maintaining manufacturability through established techniques.
Solution Approach 2:
The thickness parameter of the glass window is varied across different regions rather than maintaining uniform thickness. By changing the thickness parameter from the first thickness in non-folding areas to the second thickness (less than the first) in folding areas, the glass structure becomes more durable during folding while remaining manufacturable through controlled thickness variation processes.
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 patterned glass structure enables flexible display devices to withstand folding and external impacts while maintaining image clarity and durability, improving the overall performance and longevity of the display device.
Implementation Method 1
forming laser patterns by applying an ultrashort pulse laser to one surface of a base glass
Implementation Method 2
forming a patterned glass including a pattern portion having a groove pattern by etching the base glass having the laser patterns formed therein
Data Source
AI summary
A display device includes a folding area foldable about a folding axis and a non-folding area proximate to the folding area. The display device includes a display module that displays an image and a glass window that is disposed over the display module that includes a patterned glass. The patterned glass includes a pattern portion including a groove pattern provided on one surface of the patterned glass to correspond to the folding area and a non-pattern portion disposed adjacent to the pattern portion to correspond to the folding area. The pattern portion has a thickness that is smaller than or equal to one-half a thickness of the non-pattern portion.