Flexible Display Rolling Ball Guide Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Flexible display devices with sliding bodies face issues of increased friction and unintended movement due to plastic deformation and elasticity, requiring a solution to minimize friction and ensure accurate positioning during transformation.
Innovation Solution
The flexible display device employs rolling balls and recesses for point contact, guided movement, and magnetic positioning systems to reduce friction and prevent unintended movement, while maintaining accurate placement of bodies during transformation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If surface contact is used between sliding bodies, then ease of operation is improved, but frictional force increases causing unintended movement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies spherical rolling elements (balls) between the sliding bodies to replace surface contact with point contact. The curved spherical shape allows rolling motion while minimizing the contact area, thereby reducing frictional force and preventing unintended movement during transformation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional sliding friction mechanism with a rolling motion mechanism using spherical elements. This substitution transforms the mechanical interaction from high-friction surface contact to low-friction rolling contact, solving the contradiction between ease of operation and friction reduction.
2Ease of operation
If guiding structures are exposed for relative movement, then movement guidance is improved, but device aesthetics and compactness deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent embeds the guiding structures (rolling recesses and ball pathways) within the internal geometry of the sliding bodies. The guiding features are nested inside the rim sides of the bodies, allowing movement guidance functionality to be integrated into the device structure without external exposure, thus maintaining aesthetics and compactness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the guiding function with the structural components of the sliding bodies. The rim sides themselves incorporate the guiding recesses and pathways, combining the structural support function with the movement guidance function in a single integrated component, eliminating the need for separate exposed guiding structures.
3Adaptability or versatility
If flexible display is stored in U-shape for long period, then adaptability is improved, but positioning accuracy deteriorates due to plastic deformation and springback
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements pre-positioning features such as stopping grooves and magnetic positioning elements that guide the flexible display to its correct position before final transformation. These preliminary positioning actions compensate for potential deformation and springback effects, ensuring accurate positioning despite long-term storage in U-shape configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates magnetic positioning systems that provide feedback-based positioning. The magnetic interaction between opposing bodies detects and corrects position deviations caused by plastic deformation and springback, ensuring the flexible display returns to its intended position after storage, thus maintaining positioning accuracy.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration significantly reduces frictional forces and ensures stable, accurate operation by minimizing exposure of guiding structures and using magnetic controls for precise positioning.
Implementation Method 1
it is necessary for the two bodies to stably operate while minimizing the frictional force generated therebetween for easy operation
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of spherical rolling balls, which are arranged in a first direction, are coupled to one of the first body and the second body, and the other of the first body and the second body is provided with a rolling recess
Implementation Method 3
using magnetic controls for precise positioning
Data Source
AI summary
A flexible display device is disclosed. The flexible display device includes a first body, a second body that moves in a first direction with respect to the first body, and a flexible display that varies according to the movement of the second body. Either one of the first body and the second body has coupled thereto a plurality of spherical rolling balls arranged in the first direction, and the other one has formed therein rolling grooves, in the form of concave grooves having a constant cross-section, in the first direction to allow the rolling balls to move in contact with same. In embodiments of the present invention, the movement of the second body is facilitated by a point contact of the rolling balls and the rolling grooves, and external exposure of an element for slidable movement of the second body may be minimized.