Wave-Shaped Buffer Layer for Flexible Display Crease Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Flexible display panels face challenges with poor bending resistance and impact resistance due to frequent bending, leading to issues like 'creases' and 'white lines', and existing solutions such as protective covers obstruct the display panel's functionality.

Innovation Solution

A flexible element comprising a first and second base layer with a wave-shaped buffer layer sandwiched between, providing mechanical strength and flexibility, and optionally including adhesive fixing layers, metal materials, and apertures to enhance bending and impact resistance, while allowing the display to function without removing the element.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a protective cover is applied around the outer contour of the flexible display panel, then bending resistance and impact resistance are improved, but the display panel is blocked and cannot display without removal

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebending resistanceVSAvoiddisplay functionality

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a flexible element comprising a first base layer, a wave-shaped buffer layer, and a second base layer arranged in a sandwich structure. This flexible shell provides bending resistance and impact resistance while maintaining flexibility, allowing the display panel to function without removal. The wave-shaped buffer layer specifically enhances bending resistance through its geometric structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Weight of moving object

If the flexible display panel is made thin and light, then portability and flexibility are improved, but bending resistance and impact resistance deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveweightVSAvoidimpact resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a composite structure consisting of three layers: a first base layer, a wave-shaped buffer layer, and a second base layer. This composite flexible element provides enhanced impact resistance and bending resistance while maintaining light weight. The wave-shaped buffer layer acts as a shock-absorbing structure that improves reliability without significantly increasing weight.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Adaptability or versatility

If frequent bending occurs, then portability and flexibility are improved, but polymer material degeneration and display defects occur

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveflexibilityVSAvoiddisplay quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates a wave-shaped buffer layer between the first and second base layers to provide beforehand cushioning. This buffer layer is specifically designed to absorb and distribute bending stress, preventing stress concentration that would cause polymer material degeneration and display defects like creases and white lines during frequent bending operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

4Reliability

If internal structure and material of flexible display panel are improved, then bending resistance is improved, but implementation difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebending resistanceVSAvoidimplementation difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the protective structure into three distinct segments: a first base layer, a wave-shaped buffer layer, and a second base layer. This segmentation allows each layer to be manufactured separately using existing processes and then assembled, reducing implementation difficulty compared to modifying the internal structure of the display panel itself while still achieving improved bending resistance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 flexible element improves the overall strength, bending resistance, and impact resistance of the display panel, preventing 'creases' and 'white lines' by distributing stress uniformly and maintaining display functionality without the need to remove the protective element.

Implementation Method 1

preventing 'creases' and 'white lines' by distributing stress uniformly

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectStress distribution:

Implementation Method 2

the flexible element is configured to be capable of bending around a bending axis

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS11380856B2Flexible element, flexible display device and manufacturing method thereof

Publication Date: 2022.07.05 BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO LTD

AI summary

A flexible element configured to be disposed on a surface of a non-display substrate of a flexible display panel includes: a first base layer and a second base layer which are oppositely arranged with each other; and a buffer layer sandwiched between the first base layer and the second base layer. The flexible element can be bent around a bending axis. A projection of the buffer layer on a plane perpendicular to the bending axis is wave-shaped.