How Foldable Screens Use Electrochromic Layers to Improve Color and Contrast
A method for foldable display panels to adjust their light-filtering properties using electrochromic layers that change color or opacity based on whether the screen is stretched or folded.
Original patent title: “Driving method of display panel, display panel, and display device”
A method for foldable display panels to adjust their light-filtering properties using electrochromic layers that change color or opacity based on whether the screen is stretched or folded. Granted to HKC Co Ltd in 2025 with 23 claims.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent describes a way to manage light in foldable OLED displays by placing electrochromic layers on either side of a standard color filter. These layers use materials that change their optical properties when an electric field is applied. When the device is in a stretched or flat state, the system turns these layers into color filters to enhance the display's color output. When the device is in an unstretched or folded state, the system switches these layers to an opaque mode to prevent light leakage or adjust contrast. This allows the display to dynamically adapt its filtering characteristics based on the physical configuration of the screen.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover displays that lack electrochromic layers on both sides of the color filter.
- Does not cover mechanical folding mechanisms that do not involve electronic light-filtering adjustments.
- Does not cover standard OLED panels that rely solely on pixel-level voltage control without additional electrochromic filters.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
Instead of relying only on the OLED pixels themselves to compensate for color shifts, the patent uses active, switchable filter layers that physically change their color or opacity in response to the screen's deformation.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Foldable smartphone displays
Flexible OLED tablet screens
Rollable display panels
Why it matters
The bigger picture
As foldable smartphones and tablets become more common, managing image quality during the transition between folded and flat states is a significant engineering hurdle. This technology provides a way to maintain color accuracy and contrast in flexible displays by physically altering the light path, potentially solving issues with light bleeding or color shifts that occur when flexible substrates are deformed.
Filed
April 10, 2024
Granted
July 8, 2025
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
HKC Co Ltd, the assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →, is a major manufacturer of display panels and is actively developing technologies to compete with dominant players like Samsung Display and LG Display in the foldable screen market.
Market impact
This patent represents an effort to refine the visual performance of flexible displays. It targets the persistent problem of color degradation in foldable devices, which could help manufacturers differentiate their products by offering superior image consistency compared to standard flexible OLEDs.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent describes a way to manage light in foldable OLED displays by placing electrochromic layers on either side of a standard color filter. These layers use materials that change their optical properties when an electric field is applied. When the device is in a stretched or flat state, the system turns these layers into color filters to enhance the display's color output. When the device is in an unstretched or folded state, the system switches these layers to an opaque mode to prevent light leakage or adjust contrast. This allows the display to dynamically adapt its filtering characteristics based on the physical configuration of the screen.
The clever bit
Instead of relying only on the OLED pixels themselves to compensate for color shifts, the patent uses active, switchable filter layers that physically change their color or opacity in response to the screen's deformation.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover displays that lack electrochromic layers on both sides of the color filter.
- Does not cover mechanical folding mechanisms that do not involve electronic light-filtering adjustments.
- Does not cover standard OLED panels that rely solely on pixel-level voltage control without additional electrochromic filters.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
0/40
No citations yet
Claim breadth
15/20
Broad claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
20/20
Granted within 5 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$35K – $112K
Midpoint $70K · 17.8 yr remaining · industry ×1.5
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
The original legal language
Original claims
23 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Li, Y., & XIE, J. (2025). How Foldable Screens Use Electrochromic Layers to Improve Color and Contrast (U.S. Patent No. 12,354,567). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12354567/sea-level-raptor
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How Foldable Screens Use Electrochromic Layers to Improve Color and Contrast cover?
A method for foldable display panels to adjust their light-filtering properties using electrochromic layers that change color or opacity based on whether the screen is stretched or folded.
Who owns patent US 12354567?
HKC Co Ltd owns this patent, granted in 2025.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on July 8, 2045, when the invention enters the public domain.
What problem does this patent solve?
As foldable smartphones and tablets become more common, managing image quality during the transition between folded and flat states is a significant engineering hurdle. This technology provides a way to maintain color accuracy and contrast in flexible displays by physically altering the light path, potentially solving issues with light bleeding or color shifts that occur when flexible substrates are deformed.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover displays that lack electrochromic layers on both sides of the color filter.
Patent monitoring