Center Bar Structure for Foldable FPCB Support and Positioning
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic devices face challenges in integrating multiple functions while maintaining a compact form factor, particularly in managing flexible circuit boards and structural components to support various operational states, such as folding and unfolding.
Innovation Solution
The electronic device incorporates a center bar structure with a support member and a cover member, featuring convex and concave seating portions, fixing members, and buffer members to stabilize the flexible circuit board, allowing for efficient bending and support across different device configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a flexible circuit board is used to enable folding and unfolding operations, then the device achieves multi-functional integration and compact form factor, but the structural stability and support for the flexible circuit board deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is divided into multiple components including a first support structure, a second support structure, and a center bar structure. This segmentation allows each component to independently support different portions of the flexible circuit board, maintaining overall structural stability while enabling folding operations through the hinge assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a composite structure combining rigid support members with flexible seating portions. The support members provide structural stability while the flexible seating portions accommodate the bending of the flexible circuit board, creating a composite system that maintains stability during folding and unfolding operations.
2Volume of moving object
If the flexible circuit board is allowed to bend freely for folding operations, then the device achieves compact form factor, but the manufacturing precision and positioning accuracy deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The support member incorporates a seating portion with specific geometric features (convex surface) that locally accommodate the bending area of the flexible circuit board. This local quality adjustment allows the board to bend precisely at the intended location while maintaining positioning accuracy, as the seating portion guides and constrains the bending to a specific region.
Solution Approach 2:
The seating portion acts as an intermediary between the rigid support structure and the flexible circuit board. It mediates the transition from rigid support to flexible bending, ensuring that the flexible circuit board maintains precise positioning while achieving the compact form factor through controlled bending at the hinge assembly.
3Stability of the object's composition
If support structures are added to maintain structural integrity, then the stability improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The center bar structure merges the functions of support and positioning into a single integrated component. It combines a support member for structural integrity with a seating portion for precise positioning, eliminating the need for separate support elements and reducing overall device complexity while maintaining structural stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The support member serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support, positions the flexible circuit board, and accommodates bending through its seating portion. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining structural integrity.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an electronic device including: a housing including first and second housings and a hinge cover; a flexible display; a hinge assembly connected to the first and second housings, the hinge assembly including a first and second support structures connected to the first and second housings; a center bar structure between the first and second support structures and spaced apart from the hinge cover, wherein the center bar structure includes a support member including a first seating portion and a cover member on the support member; and a flexible circuit board in the housing, the flexible circuit board including a first portion in the first housing, a second portion in the second housing, and a bending area between the first portion and the second portion, wherein a portion of the bending area is between the first seating portion of the support member and the cover member.