Rollable Display Panel Support for Flat Unrolling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Flexible display panels often fail to achieve a substantially flat state when unrolled, necessitating a solution to improve their flatness.
Innovation Solution
A display device with a guide member and driving units that facilitate the movement of a flexible display panel, allowing it to be rolled or unrolled while maintaining flatness, using a support member and coupling mechanism to adjust the exposed area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a flexible display panel is rolled or unrolled, then the display device becomes portable and adaptable to various shapes, but the display panel cannot maintain a substantially flat state when unrolled
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is divided into multiple segments including a first support member, second support member, third support member, and fourth support member. These segmented support elements work together to provide distributed support across the flexible display panel, enabling the panel to maintain flatness when unrolled while preserving the ability to roll for portability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a coupling member as an intermediary element that connects the flexible display panel to the support members. This coupling mechanism facilitates the transfer of support forces from the rigid support structure to the flexible panel, enabling the panel to maintain its shape without direct rigid attachment, thus preserving flexibility while achieving flatness.
2Shape
If a mechanism is added to maintain flatness of the display panel, then the flatness is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs thin film support members and coupling elements that provide structural support while maintaining a low-profile design. These thin film structures deliver the necessary support forces to maintain panel flatness without adding significant thickness or mechanical complexity to the overall device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The support members and coupling mechanisms are designed to perform multiple functions: they provide structural support to maintain flatness, enable rolling motion for portability, and allow for adjustable exposed areas. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
A display device (DD) includes a first guide member (GM1) extending in a first direction (DR1), a second guide member (GM2) extending in the first direction (DR1) and facing the first guide member (GM1) in a second direction (DR2) crossing the first direction (DR1), a display panel (DP) disposed between the first guide member (GM1) and the second guide member (GM2), a support member (SM) which supports a portion of the display panel (DP), a first driving unit (DU1) which moves the support member (SM), and a second driving unit (DU2) connected to one end of the display panel (DP) to roll or unroll the display panel (DP). Both sides of the support member (SM) are inserted into guide grooves (GG) defined in an inner side surface (IS1) of the first guide member (GM1) and an inner side surface (IS2) of the second guide member (GM2), which faces the inner side surface (IS1) of the first guide member (GM1), and the support member (SM) moves along the guide grooves (GG).