Window Guide Bracket Structure for Foldable Display Reliability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing display devices face challenges in increasing display surface area and ensuring reliable folding mechanisms, particularly in flexible display modules that need to be folded or rolled without compromising structural integrity or visibility.

Innovation Solution

The display device incorporates a foldable display panel with a defined folding axis, featuring a first panel portion, a bending panel portion, and a second panel portion. The panel includes a window with distinct portions and a bracket system that guides the window's movement during folding and unfolding, ensuring the display panel's structural integrity and visibility.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the window is made as a single continuous piece to maintain structural integrity, then the structural strength is improved, but the ability to accommodate folding movement is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidfolding accommodation
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The window is divided into multiple segments including a first window portion, a second window portion, and a third window portion. These segments are arranged in the first direction and can move relative to each other during folding, allowing the window structure to adapt to the folded configuration while maintaining overall structural integrity through the bracket connections.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Area of moving object

If the display surface area is increased to improve visibility, then the display area is improved, but the folding reliability is worsened due to increased complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay surface areaVSAvoidfolding reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The bracket is designed with movable connections that allow the window portions to move relative to each other during folding and unfolding. The guide structure enables controlled movement along the first direction, ensuring that the increased display surface area does not compromise folding reliability through dynamic adaptation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If the window portions are spaced apart to allow movement during folding, then the folding reliability is improved, but the structural integrity is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefolding reliabilityVSAvoidstructural integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The bracket serves as an intermediary structure that connects the window portions while allowing controlled movement. The guide structure within the bracket mediates the movement of window portions relative to each other, ensuring that spacing for movement does not compromise overall structural integrity through the connecting bracket.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4495732A1Window guide structure and display device having the same
Publication Date: 2025.01.22 SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO LTD
  • EP4495732A1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP4495732A1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP4495732A1 patent drawingFigure 2A

AI summary

A display device includes a display panel including a display region at which the display panel is foldable or rollable, a window foldable or rollable together with the display panel and including first and second window end portions, and a bracket in which the display panel and the window are received. The bracket includes a first bracket corresponding to display region and the first and second window end portions, second and third brackets which extend from the first bracket and along which the first and second window end portions respectively extends, racket, a receiving groove defined by the first and third brackets and into which the second window portion extends to have a length overlapping the third bracket. Folding and unfolding (or rolling and unrolling) of the display panel includes varying of the length of the second window portion which overlaps the third bracket.