Flexible Display Airflow Cleaning at Rotating-Shaft Gaps

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Flexible displays in electronic devices are prone to damage from foreign objects during size adjustments due to the presence of dust, hair, and paper scraps in the gap between the flexible display and the rotating shaft, which can cause scratching.

Innovation Solution

An electronic device with a flexible display that includes a rotating shaft, a fan structure, and an airflow guiding structure to direct airflow towards the gap between the flexible display and the rotating shaft, using a controller to generate an instruction for airflow to remove foreign objects.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a flexible display is used with a rotating shaft to achieve scalable screen size, then the adaptability of the electronic device is improved, but foreign objects in the gap between the flexible display and rotating shaft can cause damage to the display

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvescalable screen sizeVSAvoidflexible display protection

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes foreign objects from the gap between the flexible display and rotating shaft using airflow generated by a fan structure. The airflow guiding structure directs the airflow specifically toward the gap to blow out dust, hair, and paper scraps that could damage the display, thereby separating the harmful foreign objects from the vulnerable display surface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a fan structure to generate airflow and uses an airflow guiding structure to direct this air flow toward the gap between the flexible display and rotating shaft. This pneumatic approach effectively removes foreign objects without mechanical contact, protecting the flexible display while maintaining the scalability function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

2Reliability

If the gap between the flexible display and rotating shaft is reduced to prevent foreign object damage, then the reliability is improved, but the ease of manufacture deteriorates due to tighter tolerances

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflexible display protectionVSAvoidgap tolerance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces airflow as an intermediary substance to address the foreign object problem without requiring tighter mechanical tolerances. The fan structure and airflow guiding structure create a protective air flow field in the gap, allowing larger tolerances while still preventing foreign object damage to the flexible display.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

Prevents damage to the flexible display by effectively removing foreign objects from the gap, thereby prolonging the lifespan of the display.

Implementation Method 1

a fan structure, located on one side of the rotating shaft for generating airflow

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAirflow generation: Fan

Data Source

PatentUS20250332623A1Electronic device and method for foreign object removal

Publication Date: 2025.10.30 LENOVO (BEIJING) LTD

AI summary

An electronic device includes a flexible display and a rotating shaft, the flexible display going around the rotating shaft to provide a visible part and an invisible part, the invisible part being on one side of the rotating shaft and the visible part being on the other side of the rotating shaft. The electronic device further includes a fan structure, located on one side of the rotating shaft for generating airflow; and an airflow guiding structure, configured to direct the airflow generated by the fan structure toward a gap. The gap is located between the flexible display and the rotating shaft.