Flexible Screen Support Assembly for Curved Display Adaptation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Electronic devices with curved screens, such as waterfall screens, face issues with inaccessible content at the edge of the screen due to curvature, leading to viewing inconveniences, edge reflection problems, and mistouch during full-screen operations.

Innovation Solution

A support assembly is disposed on the back side of the flexible screen portion, allowing it to switch between a curved and a flat state. This adjustment facilitates different use scenarios and user groups by ensuring convenient viewing and function triggering.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Shape

If the screen uses a curved structure to improve display aesthetics and hand feel, then the visual display effect and hand feel are improved, but the accessibility of content at the edge of the screen deteriorates due to curvature and light propagation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecurved screen structureVSAvoidaccessibility of edge content
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the dynamics principle by enabling the screen to switch between curved and flat states. The support assembly can change its shape to transition the flexible screen portion from a curved configuration to a flat configuration, allowing the screen to adapt its geometry based on operational requirements. This resolves the contradiction by providing a flat state for optimal edge content accessibility when needed, while maintaining the curved state for aesthetic purposes and hand feel during other scenarios.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Shape

If the screen maintains a curved structure for aesthetic design, then the visual display effect is improved, but light reflection at the edge of the screen deteriorates due to the curvature

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecurved screen structureVSAvoidedge reflection
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent resolves the reflection problem by implementing a dynamic support assembly that can flatten the flexible screen portion when needed. In flat state, the screen surface becomes perpendicular to the viewing angle, eliminating the curved surface reflection that causes harmful light propagation. This allows the system to maintain aesthetic curved design during display scenarios while eliminating reflection interference during operations requiring precise light control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Area of stationary object

If the screen uses a curved structure for full-screen operation, then the display area is maximized, but function triggering on the curved part becomes inconvenient and leads to mistouch

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefull-screen display areaVSAvoidfunction triggering accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by enabling the flexible screen portion to transition to a flat state during operations that require precise touch input. When the support assembly is in the second state, the flexible screen portion becomes flat, providing a stable surface for accurate finger placement and touch triggering. This eliminates the mistouch problem associated with curved surfaces while preserving the full-screen display area when the support assembly is in the first state.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Device complexity

If the screen is designed as a single-state curved structure, then the manufacturing complexity is reduced, but the adaptability to different use environments deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesingle-state structureVSAvoidadaptability to different use environments
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent resolves the adaptability contradiction by implementing a support assembly with multiple states (first state for curved configuration, second state for flat configuration). This allows the electronic device to adapt to different use environments - maintaining the curved state for aesthetic display scenarios and switching to the flat state for operational scenarios requiring precision. The dynamic capability adds versatility without excessive complexity, as the support assembly integrates with the existing flexible screen structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4325282B1Electronic device and control method thereof
Publication Date: 2025.01.29 VIVO MOBILE COMM CO LTD
  • EP4325282B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4325282B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4325282B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

An electronic device and a control method thereof are disclosed. The electronic device includes a screen (100), where the screen includes a bendable flexible screen portion (110); and a support assembly (200), where the support assembly (200) is disposed on a back side of the flexible screen portion (110) and configured to support the flexible screen portion (110), and the support assembly (200) is switchable between a first state and a second state. In a case that the support assembly (200) is in the first state, the flexible screen portion (110) is curved; and in a case that the support assembly (200) is in the second state, the flexible screen portion (110) is flat.