Flexible Cover Structure for Portable Devices

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Solution Overview

Problem

Portable electronic devices face challenges in achieving lightweight and miniaturized designs while maintaining user handling experience and stability, and integrating peripheral accessories for enhanced convenience and portability.

Innovation Solution

A cover structure for portable devices comprising a body, flexible components, an accommodation component with a groove, and a connection component, which allows adaptive deformation to fit the user's palm, integrates peripheral accessories, and provides electrical connectivity, enhancing handling stability and convenience.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the portable electronic device is designed to be lightweight and miniaturized, then the device size and weight are reduced, but the handling experience and stability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice sizeVSAvoidhandling experience

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The cover structure is divided into multiple flexible components (first flexible component, second flexible component, third flexible component) connected in sequence, allowing each segment to independently deform and adapt to the user's hand shape, providing better grip stability while maintaining a compact overall structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The flexible components are designed to be dynamically deformable, enabling the cover structure to adapt its shape based on external forces (user's hand grip), transforming from a rigid fixed structure to a dynamic adaptive structure that improves handling experience

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Volume of moving object

If the portable electronic device is designed to be lightweight and miniaturized, then the device size and weight are reduced, but the stability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice sizeVSAvoidholding stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses flexible components made of elastic materials that can deform under external force to conform to the user's palm and finger contours, creating a stable gripping interface that prevents the device from slipping, thereby improving holding stability without increasing device size

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Adaptability or versatility

If peripheral accessories are integrated into the portable electronic device, then convenience in use and portability are enhanced, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconvenience in useVSAvoidstructural complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cover structure is merged with the portable electronic device body through connection components, integrating protective, input, and accessory accommodation functions into a unified structure, reducing the need for separate components and simplifying the overall device architecture

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The cover structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides physical protection for the device, houses input components (touchpad, keys), accommodates peripheral accessories through the accommodation groove, and offers aesthetic customization, thereby enhancing versatility without proportionally increasing complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 cover structure meets demands for lightweight and miniaturized designs, improves handling stability, and allows for easy accommodation and retrieval of peripheral accessories, thereby enhancing user convenience and portability.

Implementation Method 1

a first flexible component, an accommodation component, a second flexible component and a connection component. The first flexible component is connected to the body, and the accommodation component is connected to the first flexible component

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS10732671B2Cover structure and electronic device

Publication Date: 2020.08.04 COMPAL ELECTRONICS INC

AI summary

A cover structure is suitable for a portable device. The cover structure includes a body, a first flexible component, an accommodation component, a second flexible component and a connection component. The first flexible component is connected to the body, and the accommodation component is connected to the first flexible component. The accommodation component has an accommodation groove configured for accommodating an object. The second flexible component is connected to the accommodation component, and the first flexible component. The connection component is connected to the second flexible component. The connection component is connected to the body, and the connection component is configured for being connected to a portable device. An electronic device is also provided.