Flexible Display Bend-Axis Heating for Cold-Temperature Flexing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Rigid displays are difficult to integrate into devices with bendable housings, particularly in cold environments where the display may become inflexible and prone to damage when bent.

Innovation Solution

An electronic device with a hinge that allows bending, where the display overlapping the bend axis is selectively heated using illuminated pixels or a heating element, and a latching mechanism is engaged to prevent folding when the temperature is below a predetermined level to prevent damage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a rigid display is used in a device with bendable housing, then the display provides stable image presentation, but the display becomes difficult to integrate and prone to damage when bent, especially in cold environments

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveintegration of display into bendable deviceVSAvoiddisplay damage resistance during bending

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the temperature parameter of the display by selectively heating the region overlapping the bend axis. This temperature change modifies the physical properties of the display materials, making them more flexible and less prone to damage during bending operations in cold environments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies preliminary heating action to the display region before bending occurs. By pre-heating the display area overlapping the bend axis, the materials are prepared in advance to be more pliable and resistant to damage when the bending action subsequently occurs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the display is heated to maintain flexibility during bending, then the display can be bent without damage, but additional heating components and control systems are required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplay flexibility during bendingVSAvoidheating and control system structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the display pixels serve multiple functions: their primary function of displaying images and a secondary function of generating heat through illumination. By utilizing the pixels' light-emitting capability to also produce thermal energy, the display structure itself becomes the heating element, eliminating the need for separate heating components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables the display to heat itself by illuminating specific pixels. The display region that needs heating generates its own thermal energy through the electroluminescence process already inherent in pixel operation, making the system self-sufficient and reducing external component requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Device complexity

If pixels are illuminated to self-heat the display, then the display region can be heated without external heating elements, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheating structure simplicityVSAvoidenergy consumption for pixel illumination

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies heating only to the specific local region of the display that overlaps the bend axis, rather than heating the entire display. This localized approach concentrates energy expenditure only where flexibility is needed, minimizing overall energy consumption while maintaining simplicity of the heating structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables the device to bend without damaging the display by maintaining the flexible portion above a safe temperature, ensuring durability and functionality across various environmental conditions.

Implementation Method 1

The portion of the display that overlaps the bend axis may be self-heated by illuminating pixels in the portion of the display that overlap the bend axis or may be heated using a heating element

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Data Source

PatentUS10943529B2Electronic devices with flexible displays

Publication Date: 2021.03.09 APPLE INC

AI summary

An electronic device may have a hinge that allows the device to be flexed about a bend axis. A display may span the bend axis. To facilitate bending about the bend axis without damage when the display is cold, a portion of the display that overlaps the bend axis may be selectively heated. The portion of the display that overlaps the bend axis may be self-heated by illuminating pixels in the portion of the display that overlap the bend axis or may be heated using a heating element or other heating structure that provides heat to the portion of the display overlapping the bend axis. Control circuitry may engage a latching mechanism that prevents opening and closing of the electronic device when the temperature of the portion of the display that overlaps the bend axis is below a predetermined temperature.