Patterned Protective Layer for Foldable Display Durability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Flexible display devices are prone to deformation and breakage due to folding operations and external impacts, particularly affecting the protective layer.

Innovation Solution

A protective layer design incorporating an anti-fingerprint pattern layer and a lower-reflection pattern layer with alternating patterns, each contacting at a distance of 20 μm or less, enhances structural integrity and resistance to deformation and breakage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a protective layer is applied to the display device, then the display device is protected from external impacts, but the protective layer is easily deformed due to folding operations or bending operations, or may be easily broken due to external impact

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection from external impactVSAvoidresistance to deformation and breakage during folding

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The protective layer is divided into multiple patterns (first patterns and second patterns) arranged in specific directions. These segmented patterns can independently deform during folding operations, reducing stress concentration and preventing catastrophic failure of the entire protective layer.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the protective layer have different pattern orientations and densities. The first patterns extend in a first direction while the second patterns extend in a second direction, creating localized structural properties that optimize both flexibility for folding and strength for impact resistance in different areas.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Strength

If the protective layer is made thicker to prevent breakage, then external impact resistance improves, but flexibility and foldability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebreakage resistanceVSAvoidfoldability and flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The protective layer is segmented into multiple thin pattern elements rather than a single thick layer. This segmentation allows the structure to maintain strength through distributed support while enabling flexibility, as the individual thin patterns can bend and deform without breaking during folding operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patterns are designed with specific geometric shapes and curvatures that allow them to accommodate folding stresses. The alternating arrangement of first and second patterns creates a structure that can gracefully deform along curved folding paths while maintaining structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Data Source

PatentUS12596408B2Display device and method for manufacturing the same

Publication Date: 2026.04.07 SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO LTD

AI summary

A display device includes a display module, a window disposed on the display module, and a protective layer disposed on the window. The protective layer includes a coating layer, an anti-fingerprint pattern layer disposed on a first part of the coating layer, and a lower-reflection pattern layer disposed on a second portion of the coating layer.