Flexible Display Middle Cabinet Gap Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Flexible display units in image display devices can suffer damage when transformed due to contact with the inner side walls of the middle cabinet assembly, as they bend to different degrees, necessitating a protective structure to prevent panel damage.

Innovation Solution

An image display device design featuring a middle cabinet assembly with a first and second middle cabinet that cover the flexible display unit's sides, allowing relative motion between states, ensuring a gap between the display unit and the cabinet to prevent contact and damage, utilizing a fixing member and coupling mechanism to facilitate this motion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the flexible display unit is transformed (bent), then the display unit can change shape to provide versatility, but the side surfaces of the display unit contact the inner side wall of the middle cabinet assembly causing panel damage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshape transformation capabilityVSAvoidpanel damage prevention
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The middle cabinet assembly is designed with movable components that can dynamically adjust their position relative to the flexible display unit during transformation. The support units are configured to move along with the display unit's bending motion, maintaining a protective gap and preventing contact damage while allowing shape changes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Support units act as intermediary elements between the flexible display unit and the middle cabinet assembly. These support units follow the bending motion of the display unit and maintain a protective distance, serving as a mediator that prevents direct contact between the display unit side surfaces and the cabinet inner walls.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Stability of the object's composition

If the middle cabinet assembly is made rigid to provide structural support, then the cabinet maintains stability, but it causes damage to the flexible display unit when the display unit bends

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecabinet structural stabilityVSAvoidcontact damage to display unit
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The middle cabinet assembly incorporates movable support units that can dynamically adjust their position during display unit transformation. This dynamic design allows the cabinet to maintain overall structural stability while local components move to accommodate the flexible display unit's bending motion, preventing contact damage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The middle cabinet assembly is segmented into fixed structural components and movable support components. The fixed portions provide structural stability, while the movable support units independently adjust to follow the display unit's bending motion, separating the stability function from the contact prevention function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3039666B1Image display device
Publication Date: 2019.09.25 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP3039666B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3039666B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3039666B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

An image display device comprises: a flexible display unit configured to be bent, by an external force, in a first state and a second state where the flexible display unit has different radiuses of curvature; and a middle cabinet assembly configured to cover side surfaces of the flexible display unit, wherein the middle cabinet assembly comprises: a first middle cabinet coupled to the flexible display unit, and disposed to cover a first side of the flexible display unit; and a second middle cabinet disposed to cover a second side of the flexible display unit, the second side perpendicular to the first side, and the second middle cabinet configured to perform a relative motion with respect to the first middle cabinet when the flexible display unit is transformed between the first state and the second state.