Wave-like Connecting Lines for Flexible Display Panel Bending Stress
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Solution Overview
Problem
Flexible display panels face reliability issues due to stress accumulation on scan lines when bent, leading to circuit breakage in foldable regions, as existing designs do not account for the specific stress distribution in these areas.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of wave-like connecting lines with specific patterns, such as sine wave, saw-toothed, or square wave patterns, across foldable regions to distribute bending forces and reduce stress on signal lines, combined with a flexible substrate and display medium, enhances circuit resilience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If scan lines are designed as straight lines crossing foldable regions, then manufacturing is simple, but stress accumulation during bending causes circuit breakage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature by transforming straight scan lines into wave-like patterns (sine waves, square waves, or saw-toothed waves) in the foldable region. This curvature design allows the conductive lines to flex during bending without creating stress concentration points, thereby preventing circuit breakage while maintaining electrical connectivity across the foldable region.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the scan lines by introducing wave-like patterns with specific characteristics (amplitude, wavelength, wave type). These parameter modifications enable the lines to accommodate bending stresses while maintaining functionality, resolving the contradiction between reliability and complexity.
2Reliability
If flexible substrate is used without wave-like patterns, then manufacturing process is simple, but repeated bending causes stress accumulation and circuit failure
Solution Approach 1:
The wave-like patterns are integrated into the flexible substrate's conductive layer during the existing thin-film fabrication process. This approach maintains ease of manufacture by using standard deposition and patterning techniques, while the curved geometry provides the mechanical advantage needed to prevent stress accumulation during repeated bending.
Solution Approach 2:
The wave-like patterns are applied specifically in the foldable region where bending occurs, while other regions maintain their original straight-line configuration. This localized application of complexity ensures that manufacturing remains simple overall, while providing enhanced reliability precisely where needed.
3Reliability
If conventional straight scan lines are used across foldable regions, then design is straightforward, but stress concentration leads to circuit breakage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the conventional straight conductive lines into wave-like configurations (sine waves, square waves, or saw-toothed waves) specifically in the foldable region. This curvature design distributes bending stresses along the entire length of the wave pattern, preventing stress concentration at any single point and thereby maintaining circuit integrity during repeated flexing.
Solution Approach 2:
The conductive line design parameters are modified by introducing wave characteristics including amplitude, wavelength, and wave type selection. These parameter changes enable the lines to accommodate bending deformations while maintaining electrical connectivity, resolving the contradiction between circuit integrity and design complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A flexible display panel includes a flexible substrate, a plurality of pixels, a plurality of signal lines, a plurality of wave-like connecting lines, and a display medium. The flexible substrate has a plurality of display regions separated from one another and at least one foldable region located among the display regions. The pixels are disposed in the display regions. The signal lines are disposed on the flexible substrate and electrically connected to the pixels. The wave-like connecting lines are distributed in and across the foldable region. Each of the wave-like connecting lines is electrically connected to two of the signal lines adjacent to the wave-like connecting line. Each of the wave-like connecting lines across the foldable region has a wave-like pattern. The display medium is disposed on the flexible substrate to cover at least the display regions.