Flexible Display Thermal Management via Adaptive Constraints

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Solution Overview

Problem

Flexible displays in portable information handling systems face challenges with thermal management and durability due to environmental conditions and folding stresses, leading to potential damage and disruption of visual content across dual displays.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that monitor and manage flexible display operating conditions using sensors to detect temperature, rotation, and pressure, applying constraints to adapt operations, such as locking the display or adjusting thermal states, to prevent damage and ensure continuous functionality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If passive thermal rejection is used in low Z-height systems, then thermal management is simplified, but thermal energy dissipation is insufficient leading to potential display damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethermal management complexityVSAvoidthermal energy dissipation

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically switches between passive and active thermal management modes based on real-time temperature monitoring. When temperatures approach dangerous thresholds, the system activates cooling fans and adjusts processing component operation to maintain safe operating conditions for the flexible display

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Temperature sensors continuously monitor the flexible display and surrounding areas, providing feedback to the thermal management system. This enables real-time adjustment of cooling mechanisms and processing component operation to prevent thermal damage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If the flexible display is monitored continuously to prevent damage, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplay durabilityVSAvoidmonitoring system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The monitoring system is segmented into multiple independent temperature sensors positioned at critical locations around the flexible display. Each sensor independently monitors local conditions, and the data is processed separately before being integrated into the overall thermal management decisions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system monitors temperature at multiple locations and maintains more detailed operational logs than strictly necessary, creating a comprehensive database of thermal conditions. This excessive monitoring provides robust data for predicting display lifespan and optimizing thermal management strategies

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Duration of action of stationary object

If adaptive measures are applied to manage thermal conditions, then display longevity is improved, but processing power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplay lifespanVSAvoidprocessing power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of stationary objectVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system proactively adjusts thermal management strategies before dangerous temperatures are reached by monitoring trends in temperature data. By anticipating thermal problems and applying preventive measures, the system extends display lifespan without requiring continuous high-power intervention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically changes operating parameters such as processing component frequency, display brightness levels, and cooling fan speeds based on real-time temperature conditions. This allows the system to extend display lifespan by adjusting parameters rather than applying constant high-power solutions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS11024224B2Information handling system flexible display operating condition monitoring and management

Publication Date: 2021.06.01 DELL PROD LP

AI summary

A portable information handling system folds a flexible display over a hinge and selectively adapts operating conditions to maintain constraints associated with folding the flexible display. Operating conditions are monitored and stored, then analyzed to adapt the constraints based upon system usage, such as historical temperature changes, a number of display folds, a number of display touches, and an amount of touch pressure.