Side-Supported Flexible Display Panel to Prevent Electrode Bending
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Solution Overview
Problem
Display devices face limitations such as line electrode damage and increased bezel size due to excessive bending, leading to resistance and disconnection issues.
Innovation Solution
A display device design featuring a substrate with a display panel, a flexible base material, and a support layer that minimizes sharp bending of line electrodes, using a flexible substrate with a protective layer and a support layer to secure the flexible base material, and includes a side cover portion to connect curved portions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the line electrode is excessively bent to increase flexibility, then the flexible base material can be folded to bond to the side surface of the substrate, but the line electrode is damaged and resistance increases causing disconnection
Solution Approach 1:
A support layer is introduced as an intermediary component between the flexible base material and the substrate side surface. This support layer provides mechanical reinforcement to the flexible base material during bending, preventing excessive deformation of the line electrode while still enabling the necessary folding to bond to the side surface of the substrate.
Solution Approach 2:
The support layer is positioned in advance at the bending location of the flexible base material to provide protective reinforcement before bending occurs. This prevents the line electrode from undergoing excessive bending stress that would cause damage or disconnection, while still allowing the flexible base material to be folded to the side surface.
2Reliability
If the line electrode is gently bent to prevent disconnection, then the reliability is improved, but the non-display area increases and the bezel is enlarged
Solution Approach 1:
The support layer is applied locally only at the bending area of the flexible base material rather than across the entire structure. This localized reinforcement allows the line electrode to maintain its integrity during bending without requiring excessive non-display area, thus preventing bezel enlargement while ensuring reliable line electrode connection.
3Shape
If the flexible base material is folded to bond to the side surface of the substrate, then the display device achieves thinness and flexibility, but the line electrode may be sharply bent causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
The support layer serves as a mediator between the flexible base material and the substrate, providing mechanical support at the bending location. This enables the flexible base material to be folded to bond to the side surface achieving thinness and flexibility, while the support layer prevents sharp bending of the line electrode that would cause damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The support layer is positioned in advance at the bending location to cushion and protect the line electrode from sharp bending stresses. This allows the display device to achieve the desired thinness and flexibility through folding the flexible base material to the side surface, while preventing harmful sharp bends in the line electrode.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a display device. The display device includes a substrate, a display panel including a display disposed on a front surface of the substrate and a flexible base material extending from the display to surround a portion of each of a side surface and a rear surface of the substrate, and a support layer disposed between the side surface of the substrate and the flexible base material to support the flexible base material. The flexible base material includes: a pair of curved portions spaced apart from the support layer and a side cover portion that is configured to connect the pair of curved portions to each other and is in contact with the support layer.