Foldable Display Support with Gear-Rack Buffering Against Dead Folds
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Solution Overview
Problem
Flexible foldable display panels often experience 'dead folds' in the folding area, leading to display failure due to excessive bending and squeezing, which existing technologies have not adequately addressed.
Innovation Solution
A foldable support device featuring a rotating gear and rack mechanism that intermeshes with a driving and support component, allowing the flexible display panel to fold while generating sufficient storage space to prevent display failure by moving the support component away from the driving component as the panel bends, thereby reducing bending amplitude and maintaining display efficacy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the flexible display panel is folded, then the device achieves foldable functionality and compact form factor, but the folding area forms dead folds leading to display failure
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is divided into multiple segments including a support plate with first and second support portions, and a buffering module with buffering portions that can independently move relative to each other. This segmentation allows different parts to perform different functions during folding, with some parts providing support while others absorb bending stress, preventing dead fold formation throughout the entire structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The buffering module is designed to dynamically adjust its configuration during folding operations. The buffering portions can move relative to the support plate through gear mechanisms, changing their positions and orientations based on the folding state. This dynamic adjustment allows the structure to adapt to varying bending angles and prevent dead folds at different folding stages.
2Device complexity
If the support component is fixed during folding, then the structure is simple, but the flexible display panel experiences excessive bending and squeezing
Solution Approach 1:
The buffering module acts as an intermediary between the fixed support plate and the moving flexible display panel. It includes buffering portions that can move relative to the support plate, absorbing and distributing bending stress. This intermediary structure protects the display panel from excessive bending while maintaining a relatively simple overall support structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The buffering module changes its geometric parameters during folding operations. The buffering portions move to different positions and orientations based on the folding angle, adjusting the distribution and magnitude of support forces. This parameter change allows the structure to provide appropriate support at different folding states without becoming overly complex.
3Reliability
If the folding area is constrained to maintain display efficacy, then dead folds are prevented, but the folding range and flexibility are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The buffering portions are nested within the support structure, with buffering modules positioned within the folding area of the flexible display panel. This nesting allows the buffering portions to move within the folding area without adding external complexity, providing protection against dead folds while maintaining a compact structure that doesn't limit the overall folding range.
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 solution effectively prevents display failure by creating storage space during folding, allowing the flexible display panel to maintain its functionality and reduce the risk of 'dead folds' by managing the bending angle and amplitude, thus ensuring continuous display performance.
Implementation Method 1
a rotating gear and a rack intermeshing with each other and connected with the driving component and the support component
Implementation Method 2
The driving component and the support component are disposed on a non-display surface of a flexible display panel; and the flexible display panel is folded or unfolded with intermeshing rotating and relative moving of the rotating gear and the rack
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 1c~2a
Figure 2b
AI summary
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a foldable support device, including: a driving component and a support component connected with the driving component; and a rotating gear and a rack intermeshing with each other and connected with the driving component and the support component. The driving component and the support component are disposed on a non-display surface of a flexible display panel; and the flexible display panel is folded or unfolded with intermeshing rotating and relative moving of the rotating gear and the rack. By setting the rotating gear and the rack, when the flexible display panel is folding, the rotating gear rotates along the rack and drives the support component to move away from the driving component. Sufficient storage space is generated for the flexible display panel while folding to effectively prevent the display failure caused by folding of the flexible display panel.