Dankook University Professor Han Kwanyoung's Team Develops Foldable Display Surface Measurement Technology

Next-Generation Precision Analysis Technology for Displays

The research team led by Professor Han Kwanyoung from the Department of Convergence Semiconductor Engineering at Dankook University announced on January 8 that they have developed a technology capable of rapidly and precisely measuring wrinkles and roughness on the surfaces of various displays, including foldable displays, using a non-contact method.

Research team from Dankook University demonstrating development technology. Dankook University

This research is notable for enabling the simultaneous quantification of both surface quality and micro-roughness of display surfaces, which had previously been difficult to evaluate quantitatively. In particular, for foldable displays, creases that occur during repeated folding have been identified as major factors that undermine both visibility and product reliability.

The research team analyzed optical distortions generated by illuminating the display surface with parallel light and interpreted the resulting images using an AI-based algorithm to quantify surface quality. This technology can simultaneously detect curvature changes at the scale of tens to hundreds of micrometers (μm) and roughness in the range of 1 to 100 μm.

Experiments conducted on commercial foldable displays demonstrated high-speed inspection within 25 seconds, achieving an average measurement error of less than 0.4%. Two related core technologies are currently under patent application.

Professor Han Kwanyoung stated, "This is an inspection technology that can quantitatively evaluate display surface quality," adding, "It is expected to contribute to improving the reliability of display surface quality during manufacturing processes and quality control stages."