Flexible Display Retractable Edge Mechanism for Variable Screen Area

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The existing mechanisms for folding and unfolding foldable mobile phones are complex, and the application modes of flexible display screens are limited, failing to meet user needs for varying display areas and scales.

Innovation Solution

A mobile terminal with a retractable body edge featuring a bendable flexible display screen and a retractable mechanical member that can switch between a stationary, outwardly extended, and inwardly retracted state, allowing the display area to be adjusted by extending or retracting along the edges, thereby providing different display scales and minimizing screen aging.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If hinge-type foldable mechanisms are used to enable folding and unfolding, then the device can change form factors, but the mechanical structure becomes complex and reliability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveform factor change capabilityVSAvoidmechanical structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the complex hinge mechanism from the device and replaces it with a retractable mechanical member that operates independently. The flexible display screen is decoupled from the hinge system, allowing it to be supported by a simpler retractable structure that can extend and retract along the edge of the device body, thereby simplifying the overall mechanical structure while maintaining form factor change capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The device is segmented into distinct functional components: the device body, the flexible display screen, and the retractable mechanical member. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently - the retractable mechanical member handles the extension/retraction motion while the flexible display screen provides the display surface, reducing the complexity of the integrated hinge system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Volume of moving object

If flexible display screens are used to enable bending and folding, then the display can be compacted, but the application modes remain limited and cannot meet varying user needs for display areas

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay compactnessVSAvoiddisplay area adaptability
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a dynamic display system where the flexible display screen can change its effective display area through the retractable mechanical member. The display can be extended to provide a larger display area when needed and retracted to a compact form when portability is required, allowing continuous adjustment between different display configurations rather than fixed folding states.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The flexible display screen serves multiple functions: it can be fully extended for large-screen applications, partially extended for medium display needs, and fully retracted for compact portability. The same display structure accommodates various user scenarios without requiring separate devices or complex multi-mode mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the flexible display screen is extended and retracted along the edge, then the display area can be adjusted, but the mechanical member must withstand repeated stress

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay area adjustmentVSAvoidmechanical durability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a flexible display screen made of flexible material that can be bent and deformed without breaking. This flexible film structure allows the display to be extended and retracted repeatedly along the edge of the device body while maintaining its integrity, distributing the mechanical stress across the flexible material rather than concentrating it in rigid components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The retractable mechanical member acts as an intermediary between the user's operation and the flexible display screen. It provides a controlled mechanism for extending and retracting the display, absorbing and distributing the mechanical stress through its structure, thereby protecting the flexible display screen from direct stress concentration and improving overall durability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3731503B1Mobile terminal with flexible display
Publication Date: 2023.01.18 BEIJING XIAOMI MOBILE SOFTWARE CO LTD
  • EP3731503B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3731503B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3731503B1 patent drawingFigure 5~7

AI summary

A terminal includes: a body (110) including a body front (111) and a body rear (112); a flexible display screen (120) extending from the body front to the body rear; and a retractable mechanical member (200) arranged at an edge (114) between the body front and the body rear. The retractable mechanical member is configured to drive a display region of the flexible display screen located on the body rear to move from the body rear to the body front along the edge when the retractable mechanical member is in an outwardly extended state, and drive a display region of the flexible display screen located on the body front to move from the body front to the body rear along the edge when the retractable mechanical member is in an inwardly retracted state.