Flexible Electronic Housing and Components for Impact Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Rigid electronic devices are vulnerable to damage from impacts such as drops due to their inflexible structures, which can lead to damage of internal components.
Innovation Solution
The development of flexible electronic devices with flexible housing members and internal components, including flexible displays, batteries, and circuit boards, that can absorb impact by bending or deforming, reducing the risk of damage by distributing the force of an impact over a larger area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If rigid components and housing structures are used in electronic devices, then structural strength and stability are improved, but vulnerability to impact damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies flexible housing members with flex regions that can bend and deform during impact events. The flexible housing includes elastomeric portions that allow controlled deformation to absorb impact energy while protecting internal components. This directly addresses the contradiction by replacing rigid structures with flexible ones that maintain strength while reducing impact vulnerability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes multi-stable flex regions that can transition between different stable configurations (flat, bent at various angles). These flex regions change their structural parameters dynamically - remaining rigid in stable configurations for normal use but allowing controlled deformation during impact. This enables the housing to adapt its mechanical properties based on operational conditions.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If flexible components are used in electronic devices, then impact resistance is improved, but device structural stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible housing members are designed with specific elastomeric materials and thicknesses that provide controlled flexibility rather than unlimited deformation. The flex regions are engineered to bend within defined parameters while maintaining overall structural integrity and stability during normal operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The multi-stable flex regions provide dynamic structural behavior - remaining stable in predetermined configurations during normal use but allowing controlled movement during impact events. The housing transitions between stable states rather than undergoing uncontrolled deformation, maintaining compositional stability while providing impact resistance.
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
Flexible electronic devices are more resistant to damage during impacts as they can flex and absorb the force, reducing the impulse received by internal components and potentially increasing their durability.
Implementation Method 1
A flexible battery may include flexible and rigid portions or may include a lubricious separator layer that provides flexibility for the flexible battery
Implementation Method 2
Flexible electronic devices may be more resistant to damage during impact events such as drops because the flexible device may bend or deform while absorbing the impact. Deformation of this type may increase the duration of an impact thereby reducing the impulse received by other components of the flexible device
Implementation Method 3
Flexible housing members may include hinges or elastomeric portions that allow the flexible housing members to flex
Data Source
AI summary
Flexible electronic devices may be provided. A flexible electronic device may include a flexible display, a flexible housing and one or more flexible internal components configured to allow the flexible electronic device to be deformed. Flexible displays may include flexible display layers, flexible touch-sensitive layers, and flexible display cover layers. The flexible housing may be a multi-stable flexible housing having one or more stable positions. The flexible housing may include a configurable support structure that, when engaged, provides a rigid support structure for the flexible housing. The flexible internal components may include flexible batteries, flexible printed circuits or other flexible components. A flexible battery may include flexible and rigid portions or may include a lubricious separator layer that provides flexibility for the flexible battery. A flexible printed circuit may include flexible and rigid portions or openings that allow some rigid portions to flex with respect to other rigid portions.