Elastic Member Design for Low-Force Rollable Displays

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Solution Overview

Problem

Electronic devices with rollable displays face challenges in providing a consistent driving force for sliding operations, leading to high power consumption and size constraints due to the need for powerful motors in specific sections, which is unfavorable for cost and miniaturization.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating an elastic member that provides an elastic restoring force to reduce the maximum driving force required during sliding movements, using a gear structure and motor to facilitate smooth operation, and symmetrical positioning of the elastic member and gear structure to minimize tilting and absorb impacts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Force

If a high-power motor is used to provide sufficient driving force for sliding operations in specific sections, then the driving force requirement is met, but the device size increases and cost rises

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedriving forceVSAvoiddevice size

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the housing into multiple sections (first housing and second housing) with different driving force requirements. The first housing contains the motor and gear structure, while the second housing contains the elastic member. This segmentation allows each section to be optimized independently, with the elastic member providing additional force only where needed during specific sliding operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The elastic member is pre-compressed or pre-positioned in the second housing to store elastic potential energy before sliding operations. When sliding is required, this pre-stored energy is released to supplement the motor's driving force, eliminating the need for the motor to continuously operate at high power levels.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Force

If a high-power motor is used to overcome repulsive forces during sliding, then sliding operation is enabled, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedriving forceVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The motor operates intermittently rather than continuously, activating only when needed to compress the elastic member or initiate sliding. The elastic member then provides periodic force supplementation during specific sections of the sliding operation, reducing overall power consumption compared to continuous high-power operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Volume of moving object

If the elastic member is positioned asymmetrically relative to the gear structure, then space utilization improves, but tilting occurs during sliding movement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespace utilizationVSAvoidsliding stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent deliberately positions the elastic member asymmetrically relative to the gear structure and motor, placing it at the opposite end of the battery from the gear structure. This asymmetric positioning optimizes space utilization within the housing while the elastic member's restoring force counteracts tilting tendencies through its specific placement and orientation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The elastic member acts as a counterbalancing element that generates restoring force to counteract the tilting moment created by asymmetric component positioning. Its placement at the opposite end of the battery from the gear structure creates a counterbalancing effect that maintains sliding stability despite the asymmetric layout.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

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

The elastic member reduces the driving force needed for sliding, improves durability, and maintains the device's integrity by absorbing impacts, thus enhancing the device's maintainability and reducing power consumption.

Implementation Method 1

an elastic member comprising a material arranged to be compressible and to provide an elastic restoring force disposed in the second housing

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic restoring force: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

maintains the device's integrity by absorbing impacts

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectImpact absorption: Damping

Data Source

PatentUS12439535B2Electronic device including elastic member

Publication Date: 2025.10.07 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

According to various embodiments of the disclosure, an electronic device may include: a housing including a first housing and a second housing configured to guide sliding movement of the first housing, a display configured to be at least partially unfolded based on the sliding movement of the first housing, and including a first display area disposed on the first housing and a second display area extending from the first display area, a battery disposed in the first housing, a driver configured to provide a driving force for the sliding movement to the first housing, and including a motor disposed in the first housing and a gear structure including a gear at least partially disposed in the second housing and connected to the motor, and an elastic member comprising a material arranged to be compressible and to provide an elastic restoring force disposed in the second housing. The gear structure may be disposed adjacent to one end of the battery, and the elastic member may be disposed adjacent to the other end of the battery facing a direction opposite to the one end of the battery.