Rollable Display Panel Structure to Prevent Drooping and Twisting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing rollable display devices face issues with structural rigidity, leading to drooping and twisting, which affect their stability and functionality.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates a flexible display panel with a metal plate cover and a bead structure for enhanced rigidity, along with a FFC cable management system that includes penetrating holes and segments to maintain panel flatness and prevent twisting during rolling and unrolling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a flexible display panel is used to enable rolling and unrolling, then adaptability and versatility are improved, but structural rigidity deteriorates causing drooping and twisting

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverolling and unrolling capabilityVSAvoidstructural rigidity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The support structure is divided into multiple link members (first link member, second link member, third link member, fourth link member) connected through rotationally movable connections. This segmentation allows the structure to adapt to rolling/unrolling states while maintaining rigidity in the unfolded display configuration, resolving the contradiction between flexibility and structural stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The support structure transitions from a static rigid frame to a dynamic mechanism with rotationally movable connections. The link members can rotate relative to each other, enabling the structure to adapt dynamically between folded and unfolded states, maintaining rigidity only when needed in the display configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If the display panel is made flexible for rolling, then ease of operation is improved, but shape stability deteriorates leading to twisting

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverolling operationVSAvoidpanel flatness
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The support structure is segmented into multiple link members with rotationally movable connections, allowing the panel to maintain flatness during operation while enabling easy rolling. Each link member can independently adjust to maintain panel flatness during the rolling operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Stability of the object's composition

If a rigid support structure is added to prevent drooping, then structural rigidity is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedroop preventionVSAvoidsupport structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of adding a permanently rigid support structure, the patent implements a dynamic support mechanism with rotationally movable connections between link members. This provides rigidity only when needed in the unfolded state while maintaining simplicity in the folded state, avoiding permanent complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The support structure uses thin link members with rotational joints rather than thick rigid supports. This provides the necessary structural stability to prevent drooping while keeping the overall device complexity and material usage low.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Data Source

PatentEP4086881B1Display device
Publication Date: 2024.10.23 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP4086881B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4086881B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4086881B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A display device is disclosed. The display device of the present disclosure includes a flexible display panel, a panel roller configured to be wound around or unwound from the panel roller, a frame extending long in the longitudinal direction of the panel roller, the panel roller being coupled to the frame, a first foldable link, a second foldable link, the second foldable link being opposite the first foldable link, a motor mounted to the frame between the first foldable link and the second foldable link, a first gear box mounted to the frame so as to be adjacent to the first foldable link, a second gear box mounted to the frame so as to be adjacent to the second foldable link, and a driving shaft configured to transmit power provided by the motor to at least one gear of the first gear box and to at least one gear of the second gear box.