Flexible Screen Terminal with Servo-Driven Housing Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional terminals with flexible displays face challenges in balancing screen size with power consumption and portability, as enlarging the display for better usability increases power consumption and reduces portability.

Innovation Solution

A terminal design featuring a first display screen and a second flexible screen, where the screen spreading and housing device allows the second screen to be housed or spread, using a servo component and support bars to change structural form, enabling the terminal to switch between screens based on user needs, thereby reducing power consumption and improving battery life.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If the second flexible screen is always displayed and used, then the display area and usability are improved, but the power consumption increases and battery life decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay areaVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a dynamic display system where the second flexible screen can switch between displayed and hidden states based on usage needs. The screen is initially hidden to conserve power, and can be displayed when users need additional display area for specific applications, thus dynamically adjusting power consumption according to actual usage requirements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The second flexible screen is nested within the terminal body when not in use, similar to a nested doll structure. This allows the screen to be stored compactly within the terminal housing, reducing the overall form factor when the additional display area is not needed, while still providing access to expanded display capabilities when required

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Area of stationary object

If the second flexible screen is always displayed, then the display functionality is improved, but the portability of the terminal is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay areaVSAvoidterminal volume
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal employs a dynamic configuration where the second flexible screen transitions between a compact nested state for portability and an extended displayed state for enhanced functionality. This dynamic transformation allows the terminal to adapt its volume and form factor based on whether the additional display area is currently needed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The second flexible screen is designed to nest within the terminal body when not in use, creating a compact configuration that maintains portability. When needed, the screen can be extended or unfolded from the nested position, providing temporary access to additional display area without permanently increasing the terminal's base volume

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Adaptability or versatility

If a screen spreading and housing device is added to enable flexible screen deployment, then the versatility and power management are improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescreen deployment flexibilityVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The screen spreading and housing device is segmented into modular components including support bars, connection mechanisms, and control systems. This segmentation allows each component to perform a specific function independently, making the overall complex system more manageable and maintainable while enabling flexible screen deployment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The screen spreading and housing device is designed with multi-functional capabilities, serving both to deploy the flexible screen for expanded display and to house/store it when not needed. This universal design consolidates multiple functions into a single integrated mechanism, reducing the need for separate components and thereby managing device complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3731059B1Terminal with flexible screen
Publication Date: 2023.06.14 BEIJING XIAOMI MOBILE SOFTWARE CO LTD
  • EP3731059B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3731059B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3731059B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A terminal is provided with a flexible screen. The terminal includes a first display screen, a second display screen and a screen spreading and housing device. The first display screen and the screen spreading and housing device are respectively disposed on a front side and a back side of the terminal. The second display screen is the flexible screen. The screen spreading and housing device has different structural forms respectively configured to house and spread the second display screen.