Window Panel With Alternating Rigid Soft Areas for Foldable Displays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Flexible display panels require a window panel that balances rigidity for protection against external impacts with flexibility, as existing window panels either lack the necessary rigidity or flexibility.
Innovation Solution
A window panel design featuring alternating rigid and soft material areas, with the rigid material providing structural integrity and the soft material allowing for flexibility, including a folding part with a hole or recess filled with soft material, and a flexible cover film for enhanced durability and touch sensitivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a window panel is made of rigid material to protect the flexible display panel from external impacts, then protection strength is improved, but flexibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The window panel uses a composite structure combining rigid material (first area) and soft material (second area) in alternating patterns. The rigid material provides protection strength while the soft material maintains flexibility, resolving the contradiction between these two properties through material composition rather than single-material reliance
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the window panel are assigned different material properties: the first area uses rigid material for protection where needed, while the second area uses soft material for flexibility where needed. This local differentiation allows the panel to simultaneously achieve both protection strength and flexibility
2Adaptability or versatility
If a window panel is made of soft material to maintain flexibility for folding, then flexibility is improved, but protection strength deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The alternating pattern of rigid and soft materials creates a composite structure where the rigid areas compensate for the weakness of soft areas in terms of protection, while the soft areas provide the necessary flexibility for folding, achieving both properties simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
The window panel design places soft material in specific regions (second area) where flexibility is most needed for folding, while rigid material (first area) is positioned to provide protection strength, optimizing both properties through strategic material placement
3Adaptability or versatility
If the folding part includes soft material to enhance flexibility, then flexibility is improved, but puncture resistance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The alternating rigid and soft material pattern in the folding part creates a structure where rigid areas act as reinforcement elements that prevent punctures, while soft areas maintain flexibility for folding operations, resolving the contradiction between puncture resistance and flexibility
Solution Approach 2:
The folding part incorporates rigid material in specific locations to provide puncture resistance where needed, while maintaining soft material in other areas to preserve flexibility for folding, achieving both protection and adaptability through local material differentiation
4Adaptability or versatility
If the soft material has different refractive index from rigid material, then material flexibility is improved, but visibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The soft material's refractive index is specifically adjusted to be substantially similar to that of the rigid material, minimizing optical interference and maintaining visibility through the window panel while still providing the necessary flexibility for folding operations
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 window panel achieves improved rigidity and flexibility, maintaining protection while allowing for folding and enhanced visibility through index matching of refractive indices, and improved puncture resistance and touch sensitivity.
Implementation Method 1
The soft material has a refractive index substantially similar to a refractive index of the rigid material
Data Source
AI summary
A window panel includes a first rigid part including a rigid material, a second rigid part including the rigid material, and a base substrate interposed between the first and second rigid parts and including a folding part configured to be folded by an external force. The folding part includes a first area and a second area, which are alternately arranged on a plane surface of the base substrate substantially perpendicular to a thickness direction of the base substrate. The first area includes the rigid material, and at least a portion of the second area includes a soft material. Thus, the rigidity of the window panel is maintained by the rigid material and the flexibility of the window panel is improved by the soft material.