Rollable Display Support Bar Layout for Winding Stress Relief

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Solution Overview

Problem

Flexible display devices experience stress when wound around a roller, which can damage the display module.

Innovation Solution

A display device with support bars on the rear surface of the display module, varying gaps and thicknesses according to the area, and a housing to accommodate the module and support bars, reducing stress by adjusting the support structure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the display module is wound around the roller, then the display device achieves flexibility and portability, but stress is generated in the display module which can cause damage

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveflexibilityVSAvoidstress resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The support bars are designed with non-uniform spacing where the gap between adjacent support bars decreases as the distance from the roller increases. This creates varying local support characteristics: tighter spacing near the roller provides stronger support where stress is highest during winding, while wider spacing farther away allows natural stress distribution. This local variation in support quality resolves the contradiction by providing enhanced stress resistance precisely where needed during the winding operation while maintaining overall flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of manufacture

If uniform support bars are used across the entire display module, then manufacturing is simplified, but stress distribution during winding is non-optimal

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidstress distribution control
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Rather than using uniform support bars throughout, the invention implements variable spacing where gaps between support bars change systematically across the display module. This requires slightly more complex manufacturing but provides precise control over stress distribution, with tighter spacing near the roller for optimal stress management during winding operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If support bars are placed close together, then stress support is improved, but the display module becomes more complex and harder to wind

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestress supportVSAvoidsupport structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The support bar spacing is optimized locally rather than uniformly throughout. Closer spacing is implemented only in regions near the roller where stress support is most critical during winding, while wider spacing is used in other regions. This localized approach provides necessary stress support without unnecessarily increasing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The support bar spacing is designed to be dynamic in its effect, with the variable gaps allowing the support structure to adapt to the stress distribution patterns that occur during winding. The non-uniform spacing creates a gradient of support that responds to the mechanical demands of the winding operation, providing optimal stress management without requiring a uniformly complex structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4006884B1Display device and manufacturing method therefor
Publication Date: 2026.01.14 SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO LTD
  • EP4006884B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4006884B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4006884B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A display device includes a display module, a plurality of support bars disposed on a rear surface of the display module, a roller which is connected to one end of the display module and around which the display module and the plurality of support bars are wound, and a housing configured to accommodate the display module, the plurality of support bars, and the roller, wherein a gap between the plurality of support bars varies according to areas of the display module.