Stretchable Display Hinge Segmentation for Strain Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current flexible displays face challenges in maintaining electrical connections and functionality when stretched, as existing technologies do not effectively manage strain and stress on the display's hinges, leading to potential cracks and reduced durability.
Innovation Solution
A stretchable display design featuring pixel substrates with flexible hinges that include first and second sub-hinges extending in parallel directions, connected by rod-shaped connecting rods and fan-out parts, which alleviate strain through specific angle configurations and strain alleviating grooves, ensuring minimal strain below 1% and preventing crack formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the display is made flexible to enable stretching, then adaptability is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to strain and stress on hinges causing cracks
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge is divided into multiple segments including a first hinge segment, second hinge segment, and connecting rod, allowing each segment to independently manage strain during stretching. This segmentation prevents stress concentration at single points, maintaining reliability while enabling adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge structure transitions from a planar configuration to a three-dimensional arrangement with connecting rods extending in row and column directions. This dimensional change creates multiple pathways for strain distribution, allowing the display to stretch reliably in multiple directions.
2Device complexity
If traditional hinge structures are used in flexible displays, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability worsens due to crack formation under strain
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge is segmented into multiple functional parts including first and second hinge segments, connecting rods, and strain alleviating grooves. This segmentation distributes mechanical stress across multiple components rather than concentrating it, preventing crack formation while maintaining reasonable structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
Strain alleviating grooves are pre-formed in the hinge structure at locations where stress concentration is expected. These grooves act as stress distributors before stretching occurs, preventing crack initiation and maintaining reliability under strain conditions.
3Ease of manufacture
If the hinge is designed with simple connecting structures, then ease of manufacture is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to insufficient strain management
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge is divided into manufacturable segments including connecting rods and hinge segments that can be fabricated separately and assembled. This segmentation enables standardized manufacturing processes for each component while the overall structure provides superior strain management capability.
Solution Approach 2:
Strain alleviating grooves are incorporated into the hinge design during manufacturing, providing built-in stress distribution features before the product reaches the customer. This approach maintains ease of manufacture through standardized groove formation while significantly improving strain tolerance and reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
A stretchable display is disclosed. In one aspect, the stretchable display includes a plurality of pixel substrates arranged in a matrix having row and column directions. Each of the pixel substrates includes an island and a flexible hinge connecting the island to at least one of the adjacent pixel substrates. The island of each of the pixel substrates includes a plurality of first sides and a plurality of second sides. The flexible hinge of each of the pixel substrates includes a plurality of first flexible sub-hinges respectively extending from the first sides in the row direction and a plurality of second flexible sub-hinges respectively extending from the second sides in the column direction.