Synaptics Incorporated
STRAIN SENSING IN FOLDABLE DISPLAYS

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for sensing strain in a flexible electronic display. In some implementations, a display controller may be coupled to an electronic display panel. The display controller is configured to receive sensor signals from one or more piezoresistive sensors disposed in the electronic display panel, determine an amount of strain in the electronic display panel based on the received sensor signals, determine a bend angle of the electronic display panel based on the determined amount of strain, and update a configuration of the electronic display panel based at least in part on the determined bend angle. In some implementations, the electronic display panel may be an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display panel. In some implementations, the electronic display panel may include a polycrystalline silicon (poly-Si) backplane disposed on a flexible substrate, where each of the piezoresistive sensors includes one or more strain gauges formed on the poly-Si backplane.