Coiled Wearable Reconfigurable Screen for Expanded Display Area
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wearable devices with rigid displays are prone to damage from impacts and are limited in size, restricting their ability to display video and image content effectively.
Innovation Solution
A flexible display integrated into a wrist-wearable strap that can be configured to increase display width by coiling, allowing for a double-width display area when worn on the wrist.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If rigid displays are used in wearable devices, then the display is well supported and stable, but the display is vulnerable to damage from impact and limited in size
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces rigid display structures with flexible display components that can be integrated into wearable straps. The flexible display maintains structural stability while being inherently more resistant to impact damage compared to rigid displays, as it can deform without breaking under stress.
Solution Approach 2:
The wearable device combines flexible display materials with supportive structural elements to create a composite construction. This allows the display to maintain stability and support while gaining improved impact resistance through the flexible nature of the display component.
2Area of stationary object
If rigid displays are made larger, then more data and content can be displayed, but the device becomes less portable and more cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible display that can dynamically change its configuration from a compact worn state to an expanded display state. When not in use, the flexible display conforms to the small wearable form factor for portability; when needed, it can be expanded or unfolded to provide a larger display area for video and image content.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible display utilizes dimensional transformation, allowing it to transition between a compact three-dimensional configuration suitable for wearing and an expanded two-dimensional configuration that provides larger display area. This dimensional flexibility resolves the contradiction between display size and portability.
3Area of stationary object
If flexible displays are made larger to show video and image content, then the display area increases, but the device size and bulk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible display enables the device to dynamically adjust its display area based on usage needs. The display can remain compact when worn for minimal device volume, and expand when needed for video and image content, providing large display area only when required without permanently increasing device size.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible display structure allows the display area to be nested within a compact form factor. When not in use, the display conforms to a small volume suitable for wearable devices; when activated, it unfolds or expands to provide the necessary display area for multimedia content, effectively nesting a large display within a small device volume.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device, method, and computer program product provide a flexible display that is configurable when being worn around a wrist of a user to increase a display width area. The electronic device includes a strap having an outer layer presenting the flexible display and an inner support layer attached to an underside of the flexible display. The strap is positionable between an uncoiled position and the coiled position with lateral edges of first and second terminal ends of the strap juxtaposed in abutted alignment. In response to determining the coiled position based on a sensor or a user interface input, a display driver of the electronic device selectively renders display content and presents rendered display content within a coil display area that is two straps wide of terminal ends of the strap in juxtaposed adjacent position.