Foldable Display Assembly With Shaft-Mounted Fall Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Foldable display terminals with flexible displays are prone to damage from falls, especially when in a folded state, due to their outward design, affecting user experience.
Innovation Solution
A foldable assembly is designed with rotating shafts, mechanical parts, and protective structures made of stainless steel or amorphous alloys to enhance protection, including sliding connections and elastic components to cushion impacts, reducing damage from falls.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the foldable display terminal uses an outwardly-foldable design with the flexible display on the outer surface, then the display area is maximized and the terminal is convenient to carry, but the flexible display is exposed and more susceptible to damage from falls
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-positioning the first protective structure on the rotating shaft before any collision occurs. This protective structure protrudes beyond the flexible display surface, creating a first line of defense that intercepts falling impacts before they can reach the vulnerable display. The protective structure is permanently positioned to ensure it always contacts the ground first during diagonal falls, preventing direct impact on the flexible display.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary element (the first protective structure) between the rotating shaft and the flexible display. This intermediary component absorbs and redirects collision forces, protecting the flexible display from direct impact. The protective structure acts as a mediator that transfers the impact energy away from the vulnerable display while maintaining the outwardly-foldable design's portability benefits.
2Strength
If the first protective structure is made from high-strength materials like stainless steel or amorphous alloy, then the anti-collision performance is improved, but the weight of the foldable assembly increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using high-strength materials (stainless steel or amorphous alloy) specifically for the first protective structure where strength is most needed, while other components of the foldable assembly can use lighter materials. This localized application of high-strength material provides maximum protection at the critical collision point without unnecessarily increasing the weight of the entire assembly. The protective structure's material selection is optimized for its specific function of intercepting falls.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite material strategies by offering multiple material options (stainless steel, amorphous alloy) for the protective structure, each with different strength-to-weight ratios. These materials can be selected or combined based on specific performance requirements, allowing optimization of both protective capability and weight. The use of amorphous alloy, in particular, represents an advanced composite material approach that provides high strength with reduced weight compared to traditional metals.
3Strength
If the first protective structure and rotating shaft are integrally formed, then the connection strength is improved and anti-collision performance is enhanced, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies merging by combining the first protective structure and rotating shaft into a single integrally formed component. This eliminates the need for separate manufacturing and assembly steps for these two parts, creating a unified structure with inherent strength at the connection interface. The integral formation ensures that the protective structure and shaft act as one continuous load-bearing element, maximizing structural integrity during collision events.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent addresses manufacturing complexity through parameter changes by selecting appropriate manufacturing processes and material forms that enable integral formation. By controlling parameters such as material viscosity during casting, injection molding conditions, or additive manufacturing settings, the patent makes integral formation feasible while maintaining manufacturing efficiency. The design parameters of the protective structure are optimized to be compatible with integral manufacturing methods.
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 design significantly improves the anti-collision performance of foldable display terminals by ensuring protective structures contact the collision point before the display, minimizing damage and maintaining display integrity.
Implementation Method 1
a first elastic component, disposed between the first protective structure and the rotating shaft
Implementation Method 2
the first elastic component... to cushion the fall of the foldable display terminal
Data Source
AI summary
A foldable assembly which is configured to bear a flexible display. The foldable assembly includes a rotating shaft; a first mechanical part and a second mechanical part, where the first mechanical part and the second mechanical part are rotatably connected by using the rotating shaft; and a first protective structure, where the first protective structure is connected to an end face that is of the rotating shaft and that extends out of a periphery of the flexible display. A first surface of the flexible display is away from the rotating shaft, and the first protective structure is higher than or flush with the first surface of the flexible display, so that when the foldable display terminal falls, the first protective structure is in contact with a point of collision earlier than the flexible display.