Foldable displays and methods
AssigneeThe Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
InventorsHongyu Yu, Siqi Yu
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Various foldable, or flexible, displays and associated methods are enabled. For instance, a screen comprises a first rigid display at a first end of a surface of a flexible substrate. A second rigid display is at a second end of the surface of the flexible substrate. A flexible display is on the surface of the flexible substrate, between the first rigid display and the second rigid display, wherein a first section of the flexible substrate underneath the flexible display is thicker than a second section of the flexible substrate underneath the first rigid display or the second rigid display, and the first rigid display and second rigid display, and flexible display are covered with a protective foldable layer.
Claims20
A display apparatus, comprising:
- a first rigid display panel disposed on a substrate at a first edge of a surface the substrate, wherein the first rigid display panel is connected to the substrate with a wavy connector;
- a flexible or foldable display panel disposed on the substrate at a center portion of the surface of the substrate, next to the first edge, wherein the flexible or foldable display panel is adjacent to the first rigid display panel;
- a second rigid display panel disposed on the substrate adjacent to a second edge of the flexible or foldable display panel, wherein the second edge is opposite the first edge;
- an encapsulation material that fills an area above the flexible or foldable display panel, the area being between the first rigid display panel and the second rigid display panel;
- and
- a transparent foldable film applied overtop the first rigid display panel, the second rigid display panel, and the encapsulation material.
A method for making a viewing apparatus, comprising:
- disposing a foldable screen on a surface of a foldable substrate material at a center portion of the surface of the foldable substrate material;
- disposing a first rigid screen on the surface of the foldable substrate material at a first side of the surface of the foldable substrate material, next to the center portion, wherein
- the foldable screen and the first rigid screen are in contact and form a first indistinguishable seam, and
- the first rigid screen is connected to the foldable substrate material with a wavy connector;
- disposing a second rigid screen on the surface of the foldable substrate material at a second side of the surface of the foldable substrate material, opposite the first side and next to the center portion, wherein the foldable screen and the second rigid screen are in contact and form a second indistinguishable seam;
- and
- filling an area above the foldable screen and between the first rigid screen and the second rigid screen with an encapsulation material, wherein the encapsulation material is filled to a height of the first rigid screen and the second rigid screen.
A screen, comprising:
- a first rigid display at a first end of a surface of a flexible substrate, wherein the first rigid display is connected to the flexible substrate with a first wavy connector;
- a second rigid display at a second end of the surface of the flexible substrate, wherein the second rigid display is connected to the flexible substrate with a second wavy connector;
- and
- a flexible display on the surface of the flexible substrate, between the first rigid display and the second rigid display, wherein
- a first section of the flexible substrate underneath the flexible display is thicker than a second section of the flexible substrate underneath the first rigid display or the second rigid display, and
- the first rigid display and second rigid display, and flexible display are covered with a protective foldable layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.