Flexible Display Screen Module for Modular Terminal Expansion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional mobile terminals have small screens that are inconvenient for browsing and editing documents, and old mobile phones with good screens are often discarded due to low battery capacity or configuration, leading to pollution issues and a need for a solution to repurpose their screens.

Innovation Solution

A modular terminal device composed of multiple mobile terminals with flexible display screens that can be expanded and folded, featuring a control unit and sensing unit to adjust transparency and touch sensitivity based on angle changes, allowing for easy assembly into a larger screen and convenient carrying.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the screen size of a mobile terminal is increased to improve browsing and document editing convenience, then the usability for office work is improved, but the portability and carrying convenience deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebrowsing and document editing convenienceVSAvoidterminal size and portability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The display screen is divided into multiple flexible display modules that can be separated and connected. Each module contains a flexible display unit with touch sensing layers, allowing the screen to be segmented into portable units while maintaining the ability to expand to a large display area when connected, thus resolving the contradiction between large screen usability and small size portability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The display screen transitions from a static fixed-size design to a dynamic configurable size. The flexible display modules can be connected in different configurations (series/parallel connections) to change the overall display area and functionality. Users can dynamically adjust the screen size and configuration based on usage scenarios, making the terminal adaptable between large-screen office work mode and small-size portable mode

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If old mobile phones with good screens are discarded to replace them with new devices, then the new device performance is improved, but electronic pollution increases and resource waste occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice functionalityVSAvoidelectronic waste and resource consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The invention enables recovery and reuse of flexible display modules from old mobile phones. Instead of discarding old devices, the flexible display units can be extracted and integrated into new terminal devices. This allows the display components of old phones to be recovered and put to new use, reducing electronic waste and the need for new display manufacturing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

Solution Approach 2:

The flexible display modules are designed with universal compatibility to work in different terminal devices. The modules can be integrated into various types of terminals (smartphones, tablets, wearables) and configured for different functions. This universality allows old display units to serve multiple purposes across different device types, maximizing resource utilization

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

3Adaptability or versatility

If a flexible display screen is used to enable screen expansion and folding, then the adaptability between large-screen and portable modes is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescreen configuration flexibilityVSAvoidmodule connection and control system
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The display system is segmented into standardized flexible display modules with standardized connection interfaces. Each module contains integrated touch sensing layers, display units, and connection structures. This segmentation allows modules to be connected using standardized interfaces, reducing the complexity of custom integration while enabling flexible configurations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The flexible display modules are designed with self-contained functionality, including integrated touch sensing layers, display units, and connection structures. The modules can be independently manufactured and tested before being connected to form the complete display system, reducing the complexity of manufacturing and quality control

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3516643B1Display screen, mobile terminal and modular terminal device
Publication Date: 2021.04.14 ZHEJIANG GEELY HLDG GRP CO LTD
  • EP3516643B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3516643B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3516643B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A display screen(10), a mobile terminal having the display screen(10), and a modular terminal device composed of a plurality of the mobile terminals. The modular terminal device includes a plurality of the mobile terminals spliced together. The display screen(10) includes a hard display screen(11) connected to the main body and a flexible display screen(12) connected to the hard display screen(11). The flexible display screen(10) protrudes from the main body. The flexible display screen(12) includes a first flexible display screen(121) and a second flexible display screen(122). A first fold line(123) is formed between the first flexible display screen(121) and the second flexible display screen(122). The flexible display screen(12) is foldable along the first fold line(123). The display screen(10) can be expanded according to the usage requirement when in use and can be folded up when not in use.