Flexible Display Sliding Housing Mechanism for Unintended Extension
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic devices with extendable displays face challenges such as unintentional extension and difficulty in extending the device, due to space limitations from other electronic and mechanical parts.
Innovation Solution
The electronic device incorporates a flexible display that can be extended in opposite directions through sliding housing structures, along with magnet members and actuators to prevent unintentional extension and facilitate easy extension.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the display area is increased to provide a wide screen, then the user convenience is improved, but the portability is lowered
Solution Approach 1:
The display area is made dynamically adjustable through sliding housing structures that allow the display to extend or retract. The second and third housings can slide relative to the first housing, enabling the display area to change from a compact state to an extended state, thus providing both large screen area and good portability at different times.
Solution Approach 2:
The second and third housings are disposed within or alongside the first housing in a nested arrangement. When retracted, the extended display portions are stored within the main housing body, allowing the device to maintain a compact form factor for portability while still containing the larger display area when needed.
2Area of stationary object
If the electronic device is extended by user's external physical force, then the display area is increased, but the device may be extended unintentionally or it may be difficult to extend
Solution Approach 1:
Magnet members are positioned to generate magnetic forces that prevent unintentional extension of the housing structures. The magnetic attraction or repulsion creates a holding force that counteracts accidental external forces, ensuring the display remains at its desired extended or retracted state without unintended movement.
Solution Approach 2:
Magnetic fields are used to replace or supplement traditional mechanical locking mechanisms. The magnet members create magnetic forces that assist in holding the housing structures in place, reducing the need for complex mechanical locks and providing smoother, more controlled extension and retraction movements.
3Ease of operation
If magnet members and actuators are added to prevent unintentional extension and facilitate easy extension, then the extension control is improved, but the device complexity is increased
Solution Approach 1:
Magnet members are introduced as intermediary elements between the housing structures to provide the desired holding and assistance forces. These magnetic components act as mediators that create controllable forces without requiring direct mechanical connections, simplifying the overall control mechanism while improving extension control.
Solution Approach 2:
The magnet members and actuators are configured to work automatically based on the position and state of the housing structures. The system self-regulates the magnetic forces to prevent unintentional extension and assist intentional extension without requiring complex external control systems, thereby improving ease of operation while limiting the increase in complexity.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the electronic device has a variable display area, then the user interface needs to adapt to different screen sizes, but the layout configuration method for fixed screen becomes inappropriate
Solution Approach 1:
The user interface is designed to dynamically adapt to different display areas. As the housing structures slide and the display area changes size, the interface automatically adjusts its layout, content arrangement, and functionality to suit the current screen dimensions, providing a consistent user experience across variable screen forms.
Solution Approach 2:
The user interface system monitors and responds to changes in display area parameters. When the physical display size changes due to housing movement, the interface modifies its visual parameters such as font size, element spacing, and layout configuration to optimize display quality and usability for the current screen area.
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 provides a larger screen area to users while improving safety and user convenience by preventing unintended extension and assisting with easy extension of the device.
Implementation Method 1
a magnet member that is attached to the second region of the flexible display and that moves away from the first variable magnet member as the second housing moves
Implementation Method 2
Another aspect of the disclosure is to provide magnet members and actuators that prevent the electronic device from being unintentionally extended, or that help the electronic device to be easily extended
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a flexible display comprising a first housing, a second housing and a third housing movably coupled with respect to the first housing, a first region disposed in the first housing to form a first surface exposed to the outside of the electronic device, a second region which extends from the first region and is located inside the second housing, and a third region which extends from the first region and is located inside the second housing, and a processor that may display a first screen in the first region, determine a direction and a distance in which the flexible display is extended based on a value obtained by a sensor, and display a screen different from the first screen in the second region or the third region based on the determination.