Flexible Display Rolling Contact Mechanism for Friction Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Flexible display devices that deform as two bodies slide relative to each other face challenges in minimizing friction and ensuring accurate movement without tilting, while maintaining a compact design to avoid aesthetic and marketability issues.

Innovation Solution

The flexible display device incorporates rolling contact surfaces and wheels with rubber caps to reduce friction and facilitate smooth sliding, with the wheels positioned to minimize exposure and maximize stability, allowing for semi-automatic deformation between states.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If two bodies slide with respect to each other to deform the flexible display, then the display can change shape, but friction occurs between the two bodies causing resistance and potential damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplay shape transformationVSAvoidfriction between bodies

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A rolling contact means is introduced as an intermediary component between the first and second bodies. This rolling contact means includes rolling contact surfaces that enable the bodies to move relative to each other through rolling motion rather than direct sliding, thereby reducing friction and allowing the flexible display to deform smoothly between different shapes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If a rolling contact means is added to reduce friction, then sliding movement is facilitated, but the device size increases and aesthetic appearance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesliding movement smoothnessVSAvoiddevice compactness and aesthetics

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The rolling contact means is nested within the structure of the flexible display device, with the rolling contact surfaces positioned between the first and second bodies. This nested arrangement allows the friction-reducing mechanism to be integrated into the existing device architecture without significantly increasing the overall device footprint, thereby maintaining aesthetic appearance while facilitating smooth sliding movement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Shape

If the rolling contact means size is minimized, then device compactness is maintained, but ensuring accurate movement without tilting becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice compactnessVSAvoidmovement accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The rolling contact surfaces are strategically positioned at specific locations between the first and second bodies where friction reduction is most critical. By concentrating the rolling contact means at these key positions rather than uniformly distributing it throughout the entire interface, the design achieves accurate movement control while maintaining device compactness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 solution significantly reduces friction and ensures accurate, smooth movement of the flexible display device, maintaining a compact form factor and preventing unintended deformation, thus enhancing both functionality and market appeal.

Implementation Method 1

rolling contact may occur at a means for facilitating the relative movement of the two bodies, such that slip and friction occurring when the two bodies move relative each other may be significantly reduced

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRolling contact: Roller

Implementation Method 2

significantly reduces friction and ensures accurate, smooth movement of the flexible display device

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction reduction: Friction

Data Source

PatentUS20220044598A1Flexible display device

Publication Date: 2022.02.10 LG ELECTRONICS INC

AI summary

A flexible display device is disclosed. The flexible display device includes a first body, a second body, a flexible display, a first wheel, and a second wheel. The first wheel and the second wheel may be rotatably coupled to the first body. A lateral surface of the first wheel comes into contact with a first rolling surface of the second body in a first contact direction, and a lateral surface of the second wheel comes into contact with a second rolling surface of the second body in a second contact direction, wherein the first contact direction and the second contact direction are symmetrical to each other about a reference surface. When the second body moves relative to the first body in a first direction or in a direction opposite to the first direction, the first wheel and the second wheel roll on the first rolling surface and the second rolling surface.