Flexible Display Hinge Radius Control and Ramp Support

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Solution Overview

Problem

Flexible information handling systems face challenges in managing the movement and interaction of housing portions with a flexible display, leading to potential damage, awkward physical appearance, and reduced portability due to sharp bends, waviness, and component misalignment.

Innovation Solution

A system with rotationally coupled housing portions and a display frame structure that manages the fold radius of a flexible OLED display, using roller assemblies and biasing devices to minimize stress and maintain the display's integrity, while also optimizing antenna orientation for improved wireless communications.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the display size is increased to improve readability, then the housing size becomes too large, reducing portability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplay readabilityVSAvoidportability

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible display is nested within the housing structure, allowing it to be folded and stored within the compact housing when not in use, while providing large display area when deployed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Weight of moving object

If the housing portions are rotationally coupled to enable folding, then portability is improved, but the flexible display may suffer from sharp bends and potential damage

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveportabilityVSAvoiddisplay integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A hinge structure acts as an intermediary between the housing portions, providing a controlled folding mechanism that prevents sharp bends in the flexible display while enabling portability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The hinge structure provides beforehand cushioning by distributing the stress of folding across a larger area and controlling the bend radius, preventing sharp bends that could damage the flexible display

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Stability of the object's composition

If the display frame structure is made rigid to support the flexible display, then display stability is improved, but the system becomes bulkier and less portable

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplay stabilityVSAvoidsystem size

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The display frame structure utilizes flexible materials and thin film designs that provide sufficient structural support for display stability while maintaining a compact form factor that enhances portability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

4Device complexity

If the antenna orientation is fixed to simplify the structure, then device complexity is reduced, but wireless communication performance deteriorates during folding

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveantenna structureVSAvoidwireless communication performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The antenna orientation is made dynamic, allowing it to adjust its position or orientation in response to the folding state of the housing, maintaining optimal wireless communication performance throughout the range of motion

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS10429904B2Flexible information handling system display hinge and ramp support structure

Publication Date: 2019.10.01 DELL PROD LP

AI summary

An information handling system having rotationally coupled housing portions supports a flexible display disposed across the housing portions with a hinge structure that manages flexible display curve radius in a folded configuration. A dual axis synchronized hinge defines the flexible display bend radius by the distance between the hinge axes and by a shape memory alloy planar support fixed in position relative to the hinge. A ramp structure engages a flexible display frame during rotation to an open position to maintain the display frame in a planar configuration.