Stretchable Substrate With Rounded Cell Cuts for Lower Breakage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing stretchable displays suffer from increased breakage rates due to high maximum strain and stress at connection points, limiting their deformability and usability on three-dimensional surfaces.

Innovation Solution

A stretchable substrate design featuring a plurality of cells with cut portions and extended cutting lines that round the corners, reducing maximum strain and stress concentration by distributing tensile force within the substrate.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If simple perpendicular cutting lines are used to divide the substrate, then the substrate can be stretched, but the maximum strain and stress at connection portions increase, leading to higher breakage rates

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovestretchabilityVSAvoidbreakage rate

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The cutting lines are designed to round the corners of cells instead of forming sharp right angles. This curvature at the connection portions distributes strain more evenly and prevents stress concentration, thereby reducing the breakage rate while maintaining stretchability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The cutting lines have different geometries at different locations: straight sections in the middle of cells and rounded corners at connection points. This local variation in geometry optimizes both stretchability in cell regions and stress distribution at connection portions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Area of moving object

If the substrate is made more stretchable, then it can be deformed to larger areas, but the connection portions become more prone to breaking

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplay areaVSAvoidconnection portion strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of moving objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

Rounded corners at connection portions prevent stress concentration during stretching, allowing the substrate to be deformed to larger areas without increasing breakage risk at connection points

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The substrate achieves greater stretching deformation with a lower breakage rate, enabling larger area displays and maintaining device integrity on deformable surfaces.

Implementation Method 1

an extended cutting line extending from an end portion of the cut portion and bent inwardly of the cell so that corners of the cells are rounded

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectStrain distribution: Deformation

Implementation Method 2

reducing maximum strain and stress concentration by distributing tensile force within the substrate

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectStress reduction: Deformation

Data Source

PatentUS12437680B2Stretchable substrate

Publication Date: 2025.10.07 CENT FOR ADVANCED META MATERIALS

AI summary

An embodiment of the present invention provides a stretchable substrate that may be significantly stretchable to be deformed but have a low rate of breakage. Here, the stretchable substrate includes a cell, a cut portion, and an extended cut line. A plurality of cells are formed in the substrate body, and a device is mounted thereon. The cut portion is formed in the substrate body to increase a distance between the cells when the substrate body is stretched. The extended cutting line is formed to extend from an end portion of the cut portion and bent inwardly of the cell so that corners of the cells are rounded.