Flexible Screen Sliding Rail and Reel Assembly for Compact Storage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current foldable screens struggle to provide satisfactory user experiences due to their large volume and limited flexibility in size adjustment, making them unsuitable for miniaturization and convenient use.

Innovation Solution

An electronic device with a housing assembly, sliding rail assembly, and reel assembly that allows the flexible screen to be extended and retracted, featuring a reel support, rotating shaft, and elastic member for winding and unwinding the screen, enabling convenient size adjustments and compact storage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a foldable screen is used to provide different display sizes, then screen size versatility is improved, but device volume increases making it unsuitable for miniaturization

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescreen size versatilityVSAvoiddevice volume
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible screen is wound around a reel assembly, with the reel support nested within the housing assembly. The sliding rail allows the reel assembly to move in and out, enabling the screen to be compactly stored when not in use while maintaining access to full screen functionality when extended.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The screen transitions from a static fixed-size display to a dynamic adjustable display that can be extended and retracted. The sliding rail assembly enables dynamic movement of the reel, allowing the screen length to be adjusted based on user needs while keeping the device compact when retracted.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If the screen is made extendable and retractable, then portability is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveportabilityVSAvoidmechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The elastic member automatically winds the flexible screen onto the reel when the sliding rail is moved, eliminating the need for manual winding operations. The system self-regulates the screen retraction through the elastic force, reducing operational complexity for the user.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The reel support is integrated with the housing assembly, and the sliding rail is coupled to both the housing and reel support, combining multiple structural elements into a unified mechanism that reduces the number of separate components while maintaining functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

The device allows users to conveniently use screens of different sizes, improving user experience while maintaining a small volume and mass, making it easier to carry compared to traditional foldable screens.

Implementation Method 1

a rotating shaft rotatably connected to the reel support; and an elastic member connected to the rotating shaft, configured to rotate the rotating shaft

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3992752B1Electronic device comprising a flexible screen
Publication Date: 2023.09.27 BEIJING XIAOMI MOBILE SOFTWARE CO LTD
  • EP3992752B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3992752B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3992752B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

An electronic device includes a housing assembly, a sliding rail assembly, a reel assembly and a flexible screen. The sliding rail assembly is assembled to the housing assembly and includes a sliding rail including opposite front and rear surfaces. The reel assembly is fixed to an edge of the sliding rail slidable outwards from the housing assembly. The flexible screen includes a winding end, and has a first part provided at the front surface of the sliding rail and fixed to the housing assembly, and a second part extendably and retractably wound around the reel assembly through the winding end. The sliding rail is able to extend the second part of the flexible screen from the reel assembly when slid outwards from the housing assembly and to retract the second part of the flexible screen to the reel assembly when slid towards the housing assembly from an outside.