Flexible Display Hinge Coupling for Stress-Controlled Folding

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing flexible/rollable displays experience local excessive stress and curvature at a too small radius during movement between closed and open positions, leading to potential damage and reduced lifetime.

Innovation Solution

A display system with a movement synchronizing coupling mechanism that ensures synchronized rotation of main display supports at equal but oppositely directed angles, using components like cams, levers, gears, or springs to stabilize the display supports and prevent excessive stress or curvature.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Length of stationary object

If a double hinge mechanism is used to reduce the width of the display system in closed position, then the device width is reduced, but the display supports may rotate at different angles causing excessive local stress and small radius curvature in the flexible display

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice widthVSAvoiddisplay lifetime

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A coupling mechanism is introduced as an intermediary between the two display supports to synchronize their rotation angles. The coupling ensures that both supports rotate at equal angles relative to their respective hinge mechanisms, preventing excessive local stress and small radius curvature in the flexible display while maintaining the compact closed position width achieved by the double hinge mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the display supports are allowed to rotate independently at different angles, then the ease of operation is improved, but the flexible display experiences excessive local stress and curvature at too small radius

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperation flexibilityVSAvoidlocal excessive stress

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The coupling mechanism acts as a mediator that coordinates the rotation of both display supports. It allows the supports to rotate simultaneously and synchronously at equal angles, maintaining operational flexibility while preventing harmful excessive local stress and small radius curvature in the flexible display area.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If a movement synchronizing coupling is added to synchronize the rotation of display supports, then the display lifetime is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplay lifetimeVSAvoidmechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A coupling mechanism is introduced as an intermediary between the two display supports to synchronize their rotation angles. The coupling ensures that both supports rotate at equal angles relative to their respective hinge mechanisms, preventing excessive local stress and small radius curvature in the flexible display while maintaining the compact closed position width achieved by the double hinge mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS20260044186A1Display system with a flexible display

Publication Date: 2026.02.12 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

A display system includes a continuous flexible display, two book halves, two main display supports, and a movement synchronizing coupling. The two book halves are connected to each other via a hinge mechanism. The hinge mechanism has two hinges, and each hinge is rotatable about respective axis. Each of the two main display supports connects to one of the two book halves and is configured to support the flexible display. The coupling is connected to the two main display supports and rotating about a rotation axis that is parallel to the axis of hinge to enable a synchronized movement of the two main display supports.