Foldable Display Device with Variable-Modulus Impact Absorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Foldable display devices are susceptible to damage from external impacts due to the direct transmission of forces through thin film components, leading to degradation in display quality.
Innovation Solution
A foldable display device with a display panel, a back plate, and an impact absorbing layer having varying moduli in different portions to convert point impacts into surface impacts, enhancing impact resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If thin film components are used to enable folding, then flexibility and portability are improved, but impact resistance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The support layer is designed with spatially varying thickness: thicker in non-folding areas to provide impact resistance, and thinner in folding areas to enable flexibility. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by providing appropriate mechanical properties in different spatial locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The support layer is segmented into different thickness regions corresponding to folding and non-folding areas of the display panel. This segmentation allows the structure to simultaneously achieve flexibility where needed and strength where required, resolving the impact resistance issue while maintaining folding capability.
2Strength
If uniform thick support layer is used to improve impact resistance, then protection is improved, but folding capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The support layer implements local quality variation with different thicknesses in different regions. Non-folding areas receive thicker support for impact protection, while folding areas have thinner support to maintain flexibility. This resolves the contradiction between protection and folding capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The support layer is segmented into multiple thickness zones that correspond to the functional zones of the display panel. This segmentation enables the structure to provide enhanced impact resistance in static areas while preserving folding functionality in dynamic areas.
3Weight of moving object
If thin film structure is used to reduce weight and thickness, then portability is improved, but damage susceptibility increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support layer uses local quality variation with thicker regions positioned in non-folding areas to provide impact resistance, while maintaining overall thin film structure for light weight. This resolves the contradiction between portability and damage resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The support layer is constructed as a composite structure with spatially varying thickness, combining the benefits of thin film materials (light weight, flexibility) with localized thick regions (impact resistance). This composite approach resolves the contradiction between weight reduction and damage resistance.
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 structure effectively prevents damage to the display panel by distributing and absorbing impacts, improving the device's resistance to external forces.
Implementation Method 1
an impact absorbing layer which is disposed under the first support layer and comprises a first portion corresponding to the folding area and a second portion corresponding to the non-folding areas, and in which a modulus of the first portion is greater than a modulus of the second portion
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a foldable display device. The display device includes a display panel including a folding area and non-folding areas, a back plate disposed under the display panel, a first support layer disposed under the back plate and having an opening pattern in a portion thereof corresponding to the folding area, and an impact absorbing layer disposed under the first support layer. The impact absorbing layer includes a first portion corresponding to the folding area and a second portion corresponding to the non-folding areas, and a modulus of the first portion is greater than a modulus of the second portion. Accordingly, even when a point impact is applied to the folding area, the point impact is converted into a surface impact, so that damage to the display or touch panels by the point impact can be prevented more effectively. Consequently, impact resistance characteristics of the display device may be improved.