TWI777129B - Electronic display devices - Google Patents

Abstract

The present disclosure describes an electronic display device comprising a planar flexible electronic display panel and a planar flexible substrate. The planar flexible electronic display panel and the planar flexible substrate are positioned adjacently in a face-to-face relationship. The planar flexible substrate is formed of a material which is auxetic when subjected to an out-of-plane deformation. In certain examples, the planar flexible electronic display panel is a thin film transistor display panel, a liquid crystal display panel or an organic light-emitting diode display panel, suitably in a device selected from mobile telephones, computers and electronic books, including tablet computers, laptop computers and foldable computers. The disclosure further describes a method of supporting a planar flexible electronic display panel in an electronic display system. The method comprises positioning a planar flexible substrate which is auxetic when subjected to an out-of-plane deformation in a face-to-face relationship with a planar flexible electronic display panel.

Description

electronic display device

The present disclosure relates to electronic display devices.

A foldable electronic device with a flexible or foldable display screen, such as a foldable personal computer, tablet device or mobile phone, is characterized in that devices with a relatively large screen are more easily transportable due to their foldability. Foldability can be achieved by mounting the display screen to a screen housing, where the housing is two sections joined by a hinge. Similar devices can be manufactured with two or more hinges so that the device can be folded into three or more parts.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, an electronic display device is specially proposed, which includes: a flat flexible electronic display panel; and a flat flexible substrate; wherein the flat flexible electronic display panel and the flat flexible substrate are composed of Disposed in a face-to-face relationship, and wherein the flat flexible substrate is auxetic.

As used in this disclosure, the term "about" is used to provide flexibility to the values or endpoints of a range of values. The degree of flexibility in this term can be specified by certain variables and is determined based on the relevant descriptions herein.

Amounts and other numerical data may be presented or expressed herein in a range format. It is to be understood that this range format is used for convenience and brevity only, and therefore should be construed flexibly to include not only the values expressly recited as the limits of the range, but also all individual values or subranges subsumed within that range, It is as if each numerical value and sub-range were expressly stated.

As used in this disclosure, the word "comprises" has an open-ended meaning that allows for the presence of other non-specified features. This term includes, but is not limited to, the semi-closed phrase "consisting essentially of" and the closed phrase "consisting of." Unless the content states otherwise, the word "comprising" may be replaced by "consisting essentially of" or "consisting of."

It should be understood that, as used in the specification and the appended claims, the singular forms "a (a/an)" and "the" include plural references unless the content clearly dictates otherwise.

The present disclosure relates to an electronic display device. The display includes: i) a flat flexible electronic display panel; and ii) a flat flexible substrate. The flat flexible electronic display panel and the flat flexible substrate system are disposed in a face-to-face relationship. This flat flexible substrate is auxetic.

The present disclosure also relates to an electronic device including an electronic display device as described above. The electronic device may be a device selected from the group consisting of mobile phones, computers and e-books. In some examples, the electronic device may be a computer selected from the group consisting of tablet computers, laptop computers, and foldable computers.

In some examples, the present disclosure may relate to a method of supporting a flat flexible electronic display panel in an electronic display system. The method includes disposing a flat flexible substrate and a flat flexible electronic display panel in a face-to-face relationship. The flat flexible substrate is, for example, a flat flexible substrate that is auxetic when subjected to out-of-plane deformation.

In a foldable electronic device, a flat flexible electronic display panel can be supported by a housing. The housing may comprise at least two sections joined by a hinge. In some cases, it may be difficult to maintain a uniform length of the inner surface of the hinge in the folded and unfolded configurations. Therefore, tolerances may be applied to the display panel when the hinge is folded and unfolded, increasing the risk of damage to the display panel during or due to repeated folding and unfolding of the foldable electronic device in use.

In the present disclosure, a flat flexible substrate system is disposed in a face-to-face relationship with a flat flexible electronic display panel. This flat flexible substrate is, for example, auxetic when subjected to out-of-plane deformation.

Auxetic materials are those having a negative Poisson's ratio. The Poisson's ratio of a material is orthogonal to the ratio of the relative shrinkage or transverse strain of an applied load to the relative tensile or axial strain in the direction of the applied load. Most of the material exhibits a positive Puson ratio. For example, these materials become thinner when stretched and thicker when compressed. Additional materials exhibit a negative Poisson's ratio in at least one direction. These materials become thicker in the direction perpendicular to the applied force if they are stretched, and thinner in that direction if they are compressed. Such materials are called auxetic materials. Auxetic materials can be flat auxetic materials in the sense that auxetic properties are exhibited only in a single plane, or they can be three-dimensional auxetic materials that exhibit auxetic properties in more than one plane.

By disposing a flat electronic display panel in a face-to-face relationship adjacent to an auxetic flat flexible substrate, it may be possible to at least partially protect the flat flexible electronic display panel from the tolerances applied during folding and unfolding, which may is "absorbed" by the auxetic flat flexible matrix.

In some examples, the flat flexible matrix system is made of a material that is auxetic when deformed by a flexure or folding, and wherein the material expands arcuately in a radial direction.

In some examples, the auxetic flat flexible matrix can be made of an auxetic material selected from an auxetic porous solid.

In some examples, the auxetic flat flexible matrix can be made of a material selected from the group consisting of rubber materials, foamed polymer materials, fibrous materials, and resinous materials. These materials can be used to form an auxetic porous solid.

In some examples, the auxetic flat flexible matrix system is made of an auxetic material. The auxetic flat flexible substrate may have an auxetic porous structure. Such auxetic porous structures can be fabricated, for example, by 3D printing; extrusion, molding or casting; or sheet assembly.

In some examples, the porous structure includes at least one row of cells, each cell having auxetic properties in at least one direction or orientation. In some examples, the matrix includes columns of cells.

In some examples, the auxetic porous structure includes a plurality of cells, each cell having a re-entrant polygonal shape. In some examples, the reentrant polygon is a polygon having at least one interior angle greater than 180 degrees. In some examples, multiple rows of cells are provided, wherein each cell is a polygon with at least one interior angle greater than 180 degrees.

In some examples, each cell has a concave hexagonal shape. In some examples, each cell has a reentrant triangular shape.

In some examples, the flat flexible substrate has a honeycomb structure. In some examples, the honeycomb structure includes an elongated array of cells.

In some examples, the auxetic flat flexible substrate has a skeletal structure.

In some examples, the skeletal structure includes a three-dimensional array with a plurality of ribs, wherein adjacent ribs are flexibly or hingedly abutted.

In some examples, the skeletal structure includes an array of elongated cells having auxetic properties in at least one direction or orientation.

In some examples, the flat flexible substrate may be made of an auxetic material. This material may have intrinsic auxetic properties or may be auxetic as a result of the aforementioned porous structure. In some examples, the flat flexible matrix system is made of materials selected from the group consisting of rubber materials, solid or foamed polymeric materials, fibrous materials, and resinous materials.

In some examples, the flat flexible matrix system is made of a composite material selected from the group consisting of rubber material, solid or foamed polymeric material, resin material, and a fiber.

Suitable polymers include polyurethane, polyethylene, polytetrafluroethylene, and polyester.

Suitable fibers include glass fibers, carbon fibers and nylon fibers.

In some examples, the auxetic flat flexible substrate has a thickness of about 50 μm to about 500 μm.

In some examples, auxetic flat flexible substrate systems are mounted on flat flexible electronic display panels. The auxetic flat flexible substrate can be adjacent to the flat flexible electronic display panel.

In some examples, auxetic flat flexible substrate systems are mounted on flat flexible electronic display panels using an adhesive. In some examples, the adhesive is in the form of an attachment sheet interposed between the substrate and the display panel.

In some examples, the flat flexible electronic display panel is selected from the group consisting of thin film transistor display panels, liquid crystal display panels, and organic light emitting diode display panels.

As previously mentioned, the present disclosure also relates to an electronic device, including an electronic display device described herein. In some examples, the electronic device is a device selected from the group consisting of a mobile phone, a computer, and an electronic book. This computer can be selected from the group consisting of tablet computers, laptop computers and foldable computers.

In some examples, the electronic device includes a housing supporting the flat flexible substrate and the flat flexible electronic display panel in a face-to-face relationship.

In some examples, the flat flexible substrate has dimensions that substantially correspond to the dimensions of the flat flexible electronic display panel.

In some examples, the housing includes a hinge. In some examples, the flat flexible substrate system is mounted on the flat flexible electronic display panel in at least one area of the hinge. In some examples, the flat flexible base may overlie at least one area of the hinge, and the flat flexible electronic display panel may overlie at least one area of the flat flexible base. In some examples, the flat flexible substrate overlies the hinge, and the flat flexible electronic display panel overlies the flat flexible substrate in the area of the overlying hinge.

In one example, the housing includes a first section and a second section. The first section can be coupled to the second section via a hinge. The electronic display device of the present disclosure may be mounted in a housing such that the electronic display device overlies at least a portion of the hinge. The electronic display device can overlie at least a portion of the hinge such that the flat flexible substrate is adjacent to at least a portion of the hinge. In some examples, an electronic display device may overlie at least a portion of the first section, the hinge, and at least a portion of the second section. The electronic display device can cover at least part of the first section, the hinge and at least part of the second section, so that the flat flexible substrate is adjacent to at least part of the first section, the hinge and the second section at least part of the section.

The hinge allows the angle between the first section and the second section to vary. Therefore, by changing the angle between the first section and the second section, the electronic display device can be moved from an "unfolded" to a "folded" configuration. In some examples, the hinge may allow the angle between the first section and the second section to change from an obtuse or obtuse angle to an acute angle.

In some examples, the hinge may allow the angle between the first section and the second section to change from an "expanded" angle of about 100 degrees to about 210 degrees to a "folded" angle of less than 80 degrees. A suitable "spread" angle may be about 150 degrees to about 200 degrees, such as about 160 degrees to about 190 degrees, or about 170 degrees to about 185 degrees. In one example, the "spread" angle may be about 178 degrees to about 182 degrees, such as about 180 degrees. In some examples, the first section and the second section may present a substantially horizontal surface when the hinge is in the "deployed" configuration.

Suitable "fold" angles may be less than about 40 degrees, eg, less than about 30 degrees, less than about 20 degrees, less than about 10 degrees, less than about 5 degrees, or less than about 1 degree. In some examples, the first section and the second section may overlap each other when the hinge is in a "folded" configuration.

Any suitable hinge can be used. In some examples, a hinge may include several sequentially interconnected sliding links. A sliding link may be coupled with or integrally formed with a first section of the housing of the electronic device, and another sliding link may be coupled with or integrally formed with a second section of the housing of the electronic device. The sliding links can each be interconnected by individual curved pawls which are slidably engaged with a corresponding curved track formed in an adjacent sliding link.

While some of the examples below are described with respect to the X, Y, and Z axes, these axes shown and used herein are for convenience of description only and do not necessarily reflect the orientation of the device or its components. The description of the various axes of the various components of a device is used to provide relative orientation information for the various components. In one example, the X and Y axes are in the plane of the electronic display device or in the substrate of an electronic device, and the Z axis is perpendicular to the electronic display device or the substrate of the electronic device. As will be observed in the drawings, when the electronic device is held flat and viewed in a portrait orientation with an edge in front of the viewer, in the following description, the X-axis is in the left-right direction, and the Y-axis is in the left-right direction. is top to bottom, and the Z axis is front to back.

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating an electronic display device 10 utilizing one of the present disclosures, wherein a flat flexible electronic display panel 11 is mounted on a flat flexible substrate 12 . The flexible display panel 11 may be a flexible or rotatable organic light emitting diode (OLED) type display. However, the examples of the present disclosure are equally applicable to display panels of other configurations.

According to examples of the present disclosure, the flat flexible substrate 12 is made of, for example, a material that is auxetic when subjected to out-of-plane deformation, as will be described in greater detail below.

In the example shown in FIG. 1 , a rear surface of the flat flexible electronic display panel 11 is mounted on a proximal surface of the flat flexible substrate 12 in a face-to-face relationship through an intermediate attachment layer 13 . This attachment layer 13 may be a sheet with a suitable adhesive applied on each side. In an alternative example, the attachment layer 13 may be an adhesive applied directly to one or both sides of the panel 11 and substrate 12 before the components are joined together.

In an alternative example (not shown), the flat flexible electronic display panel 11 and the flat flexible substrate 12 are adjacently disposed and retained in a face-to-face relationship through a frame in which the two components are mounted. The frame suitably forms part of the display panel to be used in the device. An intermediate attachment layer 13 may additionally be used in this configuration.

An example of an electronic device that can be used with the electronic display device 10 is schematically shown in FIG. 2 , showing an exemplary form of a foldable computer 14 or a foldable handheld device such as a tablet or smartphone. The foldable computer 14 may have an electronic display device 10 mounted in a housing or enclosure having a first section 15 and a second section joined by a laterally foldable hinge 17 16. The construction of the enclosure may be as described in greater detail in the applicant's earlier application WO 2018/194604, to which reference is further made and which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. In this example, the hinge 17 may be formed by several sequentially interconnected sliding links 17a, 17b, 17c, 17d and 17e. The first sliding link 17a can be connected or attached to the first section 15 of the casing of the electronic device or formed integrally therewith, while the last sliding link 17e can be connected or attached to the second section 15 of the casing of the electronic device The section 16 is formed integrally therewith. For this purpose, the first and last sliding links may be of similar or identical design to the intermediate sliding links, or may be different. The first section 15 and the second section 16 of the casing can be adapted accordingly. Each of the sliding links 17a, 17b, 17c, 17d, and 17e can be slidably nested or engaged through the respective curved pawls 18a, 18b, 18c, 18d to form a corresponding curved track 19a, 19b, 19c in an adjacent sliding link , 19d and interconnected. Also, as depicted in the example shown, each curved pawl 18 and curved track 19 may be formed with individual pawls 20a, 20b that cooperate internally to maintain interconnection between the sliding links.

FIG. 2 shows the foldable computer 14 in an unfolded or substantially flat configuration in which a user can operate the computer in the same manner as a tablet computer. Figure 3 schematically shows the foldable computer in a fully collapsed configuration. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that these drawings may exaggerate the relative dimensions of the components of a foldable computer for brevity. The user can also operate the foldable computer 14 in a configuration intermediate the configurations shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 .

In the example shown in FIGS. 1-3 , the flat flexible substrate 12 has substantially the same dimensions as the length and width dimensions of the flat flexible electronic display panel 11 . In an alternative example, the flat flexible substrate 12 is dimensioned to provide the flat flexible electronic display panel 11 substantially in the area of the foldable hinge 17 overlying the chassis of the foldable computer 14 in the illustrated electronic display device 10. support.

The foldable computer 14 may include components other than those shown in the drawings, such as a touch screen display that can overlay the electronic display device 10; a power input and a rechargeable battery; a motherboard-mountable CPU, graphics, and Audio processors and wireless networking components, switches, speakers, microphones, and more. These components may be dispersed in the first section 15 and the second section 16 of the casing. For the sake of brevity, these additional components are omitted from the drawings.

As previously mentioned, an auxetic material is one that exhibits a negative Poisson's ratio. In other words, as the material stretches, it becomes thicker perpendicular to the force applied. Examples of the present disclosure take advantage of this property by applying such a material to a flat sheet such that when the auxetic flat sheet is deformed out-of-plane by an action such as a folding or bending, the side of the sheet to which the deforming force is applied (in a The inner face when folded and deformed) can substantially maintain its size, while the opposite face can expand in an arcuate manner in a radial direction.

In some examples, the flat flexible base 12 may have a width substantially corresponding to the width of the flat flexible electronic display panel 11 and a length substantially corresponding to the lateral width of the hinge, so that the base can be used in the electronic device. Support is provided to the electronic display panel 11 in the area of the electronic display panel 11 overlying the hinge.

In some examples, the flat flexible base 12 may have a width and a length substantially corresponding to the width and length of the flat flexible electronic display panel 11, such that the base may span substantially the entire length of the panel for the electronic display panel area provides support.

Therefore, the proximal face of the auxetic flat flexible substrate 12 on which the flat flexible electronic display panel 11 is mounted maintains the same size when the display panel is folded or unfolded, and during folding and unfolding by means of the hinge mechanism of the housing Any tension or pressure created by manufacturing and assembly tolerances is absorbed by the auxetic matrix 12 and is not transferred to the display panel 11 .

Examples of matrices of the present disclosure include auxetic materials that can be elastically anisotropic, having different Poisson's ratios depending on the direction in which they stretch; or isotropic auxetic materials that have the same Poisson's ratio in all directions . Examples of anisotropic materials include polymeric or metallic honeycombs that are deformed by bending the rib joints of an auxetic framework. Examples of isotropic materials include polymers and metallic auxetic foams.

Exemplary polymeric foams of exemplary substrates may include expanded polytetrafluoroethylene, polyurethane, polyethylene, and polypropylene.

Exemplary metallic foams may include copper foams and aluminum foams.

Auxetic materials can acquire auxetic properties through their molecular or crystalline structure or through their microscopic or macroscopic structure. Figures 4 and 5 show illustrative macroscopic structures that may be applied on a flat flexible substrate 12 of examples of the present disclosure. Illustrated substrates 12A (FIG. 4) and 12B (FIG. 5) are generally flat, with a dimension x on the X-axis, corresponding generally to a width of the flat flexible panel 11; and a dimension y on the Y-axis , corresponding to one length of the flat flexible display panel 11 . These matrices have a dimension z on the Z axis, corresponding to the thickness of the panel 11 .

Examples of substrates of the present disclosure are constructed to exhibit flat auxetic properties in the ZY plane for stretching or squeezing in the x -direction along at least the X-axis such that the substrate is subjected to a fold such as applied across the width x of the substrate. Auxiliary deformation when a motion or out-of-plane (Z-axis) deformation of a bending or bending motion. In other examples, the matrix may exhibit three-dimensional auxetic properties, achieving bending along both the X and Y axes.

In some examples, a cellular cellular structure can be viewed as being formed with interconnecting ribs, and where the structure is under tension, the pores of the ribs are auxetic due to bending and/or hinged at their interconnection or junction. open. In other examples, the honeycomb structure can be chiral, where each node is defined by a cylinder, and the cylinders are interconnected by ribs or ligaments, where the auxetic effect causes bending due to cylinder rotation of the ligament produced.

In Figure 4, the auxetic properties of the flat flexible matrix 12A are obtained by basing the matrix on a two-dimensional concave hexagonal structure of the type proposed by Masters and Evans ( Masters IG, Evans KE - Models for the elastic deformation of honeycombs. Compos Struct 35(4):403-422) to form a three-dimensional structure provided by extending each honeycomb hole to form an array of tubular channels or conduits 21 displaced laterally across the body of the substrate 12A applied to the X of the substrate Shaft, similar in form to the grooves of the corrugated fibreboard sheet. The channels 21 of this array may have closed walls (as shown). In an alternative example (not shown in the figure), particularly one in which the matrix exhibits three-dimensional auxetic properties in both the x and y dimensions, the channel 21 may have a skeletal structure with open walls. In some examples, the matrices can form an auxetic foam.

Exemplary auxetic materials can be formed from any suitable material, including natural or synthetic rubber materials, foamed polymeric materials, microcellular polymers, fibrous materials, and resinous materials.

The base 12 may have a thickness of about 50 μm to about 500 μm.

In an exemplary assembled electronic device 14 , the display panel 11 mounted with the flat flexible substrate 12A is assembled on the frame or case of the device 14 with the array of lateral channels 21 parallel to the lateral hinges 17 . With this configuration, the transverse channel 21 in the area of the hinge 17 is caused to expand radially in a direction away from the display panel 11 due to the folding of the first and second housing parts around the hinge 17 .

In an alternative example shown in Figure 5, the reentrant hexagonal structure was altered to use Larsen and Bouwstra for publication in journals ( Larsen, UD, Sigmund, O., & Bouwstra, S. Design and fabrication of compliant micromechanisms and structures with negative Poisson's ratio. IEEE Journal of Microelectromechanical Systems, 6, 99-106. DOI: 10.1109/84.585787) to form the transverse tubular channel 22 . As previously described for the example of FIG. 4, although the channels 22 of the array of FIG. 5 have closed walls, alternative examples (not shown), particularly those in which the substrate exhibits three-dimensional auxetic properties along both the X and Y axes , there may be a skeletal structure with open walls.

Figures 6-8 illustrate in more detail the behavior of the flat flexible substrate during use. These figures are schematic and exaggerately illustrate the relative thicknesses of the substrate and display panel 11 for brevity. The dimensions of certain examples of this disclosure are noted above.

For further clarification for illustration purposes, these figures also illustrate the configuration and degree of curvature of the auxetic matrix in an enlarged scale. FIG. 6 is a detailed view of the circled portion of FIG. 1 with the electronic display device 10 in an unfolded configuration and the flat flexible substrate 12 mounted on the display panel 11 is the substrate 12A of FIG. 4 . FIG. 6 shows a dimension L which, in an example corresponding to the matrix 12A of FIG. 4 , represents the distance between adjacent corresponding topographies, such as adjacent vertices, of the arrow design of the auxetic matrix. FIG. 7 is a view of the same electronic display device 10 in an at least partially folded configuration to bend the device, and the drawing shows the result of folding the base and the panel to which the base is attached. As can be seen from the figure, in this folded configuration, the spacing between adjacent corresponding topographical bodies on the surface away from the display panel 11 is extended by a tolerance distance t , so that the total distance between adjacent corresponding topographical bodies is increased to L+t , and at the same time The distance between the adjacent corresponding topographical bodies on the surface of the substrate mounted on the display panel 12 is maintained at L .

FIGS. 8 and 9 correspond to FIGS. 6 and 7 , except that the flat flexible substrate 12 is the substrate 12B of FIG. 5 . As compared between Figures 6 and 7, it can be seen that the spacing of adjacent corresponding topographies of the auxetic matrix material on the face away from the display panel 11 increases to a distance L + t in the folded configuration, while the distance between the matrix 12B is increased to a distance L+t in the folded configuration. The distance between the surfaces mounted on the display panel 12 is maintained at L .

The depicted geometry of the exemplary substrate is described further below.

As can be seen from Figure 6, some examples of auxetic materials suitable for illustrating a substrate may include a repeating pattern or array of cells 23 that are substantially identical when the substrate is in a flat configuration. - This element is highlighted in bold in Figure 6. This cell has a reentrant hexagonal shape that forms a pair of side ribs defined by nodes 24a, 24b and 24c, 24d through six ribs that join or intersect at six individual nodes 24, and The upper and lower intermediate nodes 24e, 24f are recessed relative to the side ribs in the base in a flat configuration. A connecting rib 25 hangs down from the lower intermediate node 24f and connects the lower intermediate node 24f of a cell to the upper intermediate node 24e of a lower cell. It can also be observed from FIG. 6 that the lower intermediate node 24f of a cell also forms the node 24a of the cells in the lower column, offsetting the cells of the adjacent column. Similarly, the upper intermediate node 24e of a cell also forms the node 24b in the lower offset column.

In some examples, the cell array may have a single column of cells. In other examples, the cell array includes a series of cell columns. The uppermost column of cells (as seen in the figure) defines the proximal face in the base 21 to which the flexible electronic display panel 11 is attached at the corresponding upper nodes 24a, 24c.

Since the upper nodes 24a, 24c are rigidly mounted relative to the flexible electronic display panel 11, the spacing between corresponding nodes in adjacent cells remains constant at the point where the nodes are attached to the flexible electronic display panel 11. On the contrary, as can be seen from FIG. 7 , as the flexible electronic display panel 11 is bent, those cells away from the proximal end face of the base body 21 expand in a generally meandering manner in a radial direction, so that the side ribs are displaced to be compatible with the flexible electronic display panel 11 . A center of curvature (not shown) of the flexible electronic display panel 11 is radially aligned. Thus, when the base body is folded, the distal end face of the base body can expand and elongate to an arc length of L + t , while the proximal end face to which the flexible electronic display panel 11 is attached maintains a fixed length L .

In the alternative illustrative substrate of FIG. 8, cells may be formed by a repeating pattern of two reentrant triangles arranged adjacently in oppositely pointing orientations, forming a series of upwardly (as seen in the figure) and downwardly staggered pointing reentrant triangle cells 30. As in the example of Figures 6 and 7, this configuration is defined by a series of six nodes 31a, 31b, 31c, 31d, 31e, 31f, the upper nodes 31a, 31c all being joined to the middle node above the recessed corner 31e, and the lower middle node 31f is set protruding from the side nodes 31a, 31b, 31c, 31d compared to the node 24f set at the concave corner of the exemplary base in FIG. The lower middle node 31f is also attached to the upper side nodes 31a, 31d of the adjacent cells of the lower row.

In this example, the nodes 31a, 31c form in the base body 22 its proximal face for the flexible electronic display panel 11 to be mounted on. 8 and 9, when the flexible electronic display panel 11 is folded or bent, the proximal face of the base body 22 is constrained to be maintained between the upper nodes 31a, 31c due to the attachment to the flexible electronic display panel With the same spacing L , the distant columns can expand in an arcuate manner, so that the spacing or arc length between adjacent corresponding nodes can be increased to L + t .

In the example shown in Figures 4-9, the ribs may be substantially rigid, inflexible or inextensible, such that radial cell expansion is achieved by a flexing or articulating motion only at the nodes. Alternatively, the ribs may be elastically flexed and/or stretchable such that radial expansion of the cells, optionally in addition to flexing or articulation at the junctions, is by flexing of the ribs and/or or stretch to complete.

Although described above with reference to Figures 4-9 for anisotropic auxetic matrices, other auxetic materials that can be formed into a substantially flat matrix are equally suitable. For example, foamed materials such as expanded microcellular polytetrafluoroethylene, polymers based on reflexyne type molecular architectures, and auxetic ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene are suitable.

Thus, by mounting the display panel 11 on a substrate 12 made of an auxetic material, tolerances are absorbed by the auxetic material rather than being transferred to the display panel 11 in the case of a foldable computer construction.

Although described above with reference to a foldable computer, the present disclosure is also applicable to other electronic products incorporating one or more display panels, especially flexible display panels. For example, the present disclosure is also applicable to foldable mobile phone devices such as smartphones, tablet devices, e-books and media players for viewing image and video media.

Likewise, although described above with reference to flexible display panels, such as OLED devices, the present disclosure is equally applicable to providing support for non-flexible or partially flexible display panels that may be subjected to out-of-plane deformation or other forces such as impact forces .

10: Electronic display device 11: Flat Flexible (Electronic) Display Panel, (Flexible) Display Panel, (Flat Flexible Display) Panel 12: (flat and flexible) matrix, auxetic (flat and flexible) matrix 12A: (flat and flexible) substrate 12B, 21, 22: Matrix 13: Attachment layer 14: foldable computer, electronic device 15: First Division 16: Second Division 17: Lateral (foldable) hinges, hinges 17a~17e: Sliding link 18a~18d: Bending claw pieces 19a~19d: Curved track 20a, 20b: Latches 21: pipes, (transverse) channels, transverse tubular channels 23: Unit 24,24a~24f,31a~31f: Node 25: Connecting Ribs 30: Recessed Triangular Unit L: size t: Tolerance distance

1 is a schematic cross-section of an exemplary electronic display device utilizing one of the present disclosures;

2 is a schematic perspective view of an example of an electronic device incorporating the exemplary electronic display device of FIG. 1 in an expanded configuration;

3 is a schematic side view of the exemplary electronic device of FIG. 2 in a folded configuration;

4 is a schematic perspective view of a first exemplary flat flexible substrate incorporated into the exemplary electronic display device of FIG. 1;

5 is a schematic perspective view of a second exemplary flat flexible substrate incorporated into the exemplary electronic display device of FIG. 1;

6 is a detailed view of a portion of the exemplary display device of FIG. 1 and the exemplary flat flexible substrate of FIG. 4 exhibiting a flat configuration;

7 is a detailed view of a portion of the exemplary display device of FIG. 1 and the exemplary flat flexible substrate of FIG. 4 in a folded configuration;

8 is a detailed view of a portion of the exemplary display device of FIG. 1 and the exemplary flat flexible substrate of FIG. 5 exhibiting a flat configuration; and

9 is a detailed view of a portion of the exemplary display device of FIG. 1 and the exemplary flat flexible substrate of FIG. 5 in a folded configuration.

These drawings depict several examples of the present disclosure. It should be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the examples depicted in the drawings.

10: Electronic display device

11: Flat Flexible (Electronic) Display Panel, (Flexible) Display Panel, (Flat Flexible Display) Panel

12: (flat and flexible) matrix, auxetic (flat and flexible) matrix

13: Attachment layer

Claims (13)

An electronic display device comprising: a flat flexible electronic display panel; and a flat flexible substrate; wherein the flat flexible electronic display panel and the flat flexible substrate are arranged in a face-to-face relationship, and wherein the flat flexible the matrix is auxetic and has an auxetic cellular structure composed of a plurality of cells, each cell having a reentrant polygonal shape, and each cell extending to form an array of tubular channels, The tubular channels are arranged laterally across the flat flexible substrate. The electronic display device of claim 1, wherein the auxetic flat flexible base system is made from a material selected from the group consisting of rubber materials, foamed polymer materials, fibrous materials, and Resin material. The electronic display device of claim 1, wherein the auxetic porous structure comprises a plurality of cells having a reentrant hexagonal shape, or a plurality of cells having a reentrant triangular shape. The electronic display device of claim 1, wherein the auxetic flat flexible substrate has a thickness of about 50 μm to about 500 μm. The electronic display device of claim 1, wherein the auxetic flat flexible substrate system is mounted on the flat flexible electronic display panel. The electronic display device of claim 1, wherein the auxetic flat flexible base system is mounted on the flat flexible electronic display panel through an adhesive. The electronic display device of claim 1, wherein the flat flexible electronic display panel is selected from the group consisting of: a thin film transistor display panel, a liquid crystal display panel, and an organic light emitting diode display panel. An electronic device comprising the electronic display device of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a device selected from the group consisting of a mobile phone, a computer and an electronic book. The electronic device of claim 8, comprising a housing, wherein the housing supports the auxetic flat flexible substrate and the flat flexible electronic display panel in a face-to-face relationship. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the housing includes a hinge. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the flat flexible substrate is mounted on the flat flexible electronic display panel in at least one region of the hinge. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the flat flexible substrate overlies the hinge, and the flat flexible electronic display panel overlies the flat flexible substrate in a region overlying the hinge. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the hinge comprises a plurality of sequentially interconnected sliding links.

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