Flexible Display Hinge Cutout Reduces Stress Concentration

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing mobile terminals with foldable flexible displays suffer from stress concentration due to a small bending radius of the flexible display when folded, which can lead to potential damage.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a cutout portion in the housings to form spaces that allow the flexible display to bulge during folding, thereby increasing the bending radius and reducing stress concentration, along with hinges that accommodate the flexible display's deformation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the flexible display is folded between the first housing and the second housing using hinges, then the mobile terminal achieves a compact folded state, but the bending radius of the flexible display becomes extremely small causing stress concentration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefolded state compactnessVSAvoidflexible display stress resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is divided into two separate housings (first housing and second housing) connected by hinges, allowing the flexible display to be folded between them. This segmentation enables compact folding while distributing the mechanical stress across the hinge joints and housing structures rather than concentrating it entirely on the flexible display material.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The hinges act as intermediary elements between the first and second housings, providing a mechanical pivot point that facilitates folding motion. The hinges mediate the transition between folded and unfolded states while supporting the flexible display and reducing direct stress on the display material during bending.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Length of moving object

If the flexible display is folded with a small bending radius, then the mobile terminal achieves compact dimensions, but stress concentration occurs in the bending portion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefolded lengthVSAvoidstress concentration

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The housing structures extend in multiple dimensions to accommodate the folded flexible display. The first and second housings are positioned at different spatial locations and orientations, creating a three-dimensional folded configuration that reduces the bending radius constraints while maintaining compact overall dimensions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The hinge mechanism allows the mobile terminal to dynamically change its configuration parameters between folded and unfolded states. During folding, the hinges enable controlled rotation that adjusts the bending radius and stress distribution, optimizing the balance between compactness and stress resistance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS10571962B2Mobile terminal with flexible display

Publication Date: 2020.02.25 SHARP KK

AI summary

In a mobile terminal, a second housing includes a second hinge configured to fit together with a first hinge to allow a flexible display to fold between a first housing and the second housing. The first housing includes a cutout portion configured to form a space for permitting elastic deformation of a bending portion of the flexible display that is folded.