Flexible Screen Roller Mechanism for Vehicle Safety

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Solution Overview

Problem

Rear passengers in vehicles face the risk of injury from impact with a display device screen during abrupt braking or collisions, as the screen may shatter and cause cuts.

Innovation Solution

A display device with a flexible screen that can be rolled up or folded for storage behind an appearance member, using a roller mechanism and driving member to automatically transition the screen to a safe position during sudden vehicle movements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the flexible screen is positioned in front of rear passengers for entertainment, then entertainment functionality is improved, but safety risk increases due to potential impact during abrupt braking or collisions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveentertainment functionalityVSAvoidimpact injury risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible screen is designed to be dynamically repositionable between an unfolded viewing state and a rolled-up storage state. The roller assembly enables the screen to transition from a static display position to a compact stored position, allowing the system to adapt its configuration based on safety requirements versus entertainment functionality needs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The harmful aspect (the screen itself) is extracted from the dangerous position during safety events. By rolling up the flexible screen into the roller assembly, the screen is removed from the path where passengers might impact it during abrupt braking or collisions, thereby eliminating the source of potential injury while preserving entertainment functionality when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Stability of the object's composition

If the flexible screen is made rigid for structural stability, then structural integrity is improved, but safety hazard worsens due to glass shattering and causing cuts

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidglass shattering hazard

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a flexible screen constructed with thin-film technology, replacing traditional rigid glass panels. This flexible construction maintains sufficient structural integrity for display functionality while eliminating the shattering hazard associated with rigid glass, as the flexible material can deform under impact without fracturing into dangerous fragments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The potential harm from rigid glass shattering is converted into a benefit by using flexible materials that inherently resist shattering. The flexibility itself becomes a safety feature, transforming what would be a structural weakness (flexibility) into a protective characteristic that prevents glass fragmentation and associated injuries during impact events.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Ease of operation

If the flexible screen is continuously displayed for entertainment, then user convenience is improved, but safety exposure increases during sudden vehicle movements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser convenienceVSAvoidpassenger impact risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by automatically rolling up the flexible screen before a safety incident can occur. Sensors detect sudden vehicle movements or collisions and trigger the roller assembly to retract the screen, proactively removing the hazard before passengers can impact the display, thereby prioritizing safety over continuous entertainment availability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The display device serves its own safety requirements autonomously through automatic screen retraction. The system monitors vehicle conditions and independently decides when to roll up the flexible screen without requiring manual user intervention, balancing entertainment convenience with automatic safety responses during critical vehicle events.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS20250142742A1Display device

Publication Date: 2025.05.01 AU OPTRONICS CORP

AI summary

A display device includes a base, a pivot assembly, a roller, a flexible screen, and an appearance member. The pivot assembly is arranged on the base. Two opposite ends of the roller are pivotally connected to the pivot assembly. The flexible screen has opposite first and second edges, the first edge is connected to the roller, and the roller is adapted to unfold or roll up the flexible screen. The appearance member has an opening having opposite first and second sides, the appearance member covers the base, and the base corresponds to the first side of the opening. In a folded state, the flexible screen is located outside the opening. During a transition from the folded state to an unfolded state, the second edge moves towards the second side of the opening to expose at least one portion of the flexible screen to the opening.