Foldable Display Side-Frame Layout for Thin Narrow-Bezel Housings

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing foldable devices have a protruding side frame that increases thickness and blocks the flexible display, leading to interference and hand scratching issues.

Innovation Solution

The foldable device incorporates a flexible display with a first and second housing connected by a hinge, featuring limiting surfaces on the side frames that reduce protrusion and blocking, along with adhesive layers and protective film layers to enhance flexibility and sealing, while using a support plate to control bending posture.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a side frame with large width is arranged around the flexible display to ensure safety and posture control, then the flexible display is protected and controlled, but the thickness dimension increases and the display area is blocked

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafety and posture control of flexible displayVSAvoidthickness dimension of foldable device
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The side frame is segmented into a first side frame and a second side frame that are disposed at different positions. The first side frame is arranged around a first edge of the flexible display, while the second side frame is arranged around a second edge of the flexible display. This segmentation allows each side frame to be narrower individually, reducing the overall thickness dimension while maintaining protective function through distributed support points.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The side frames are arranged at different positions along the edges of the flexible display rather than forming a continuous perimeter frame. This spatial distribution in multiple dimensions allows the device to achieve stability and posture control through strategically placed support points, eliminating the need for a wide continuous frame that would increase thickness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If a side frame with large width is arranged around the flexible display, then the flexible display is protected, but the screen-to-body ratio decreases due to blocked display area

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection of flexible displayVSAvoiddisplay area of flexible display
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The protective function is segmented across multiple narrow side frames positioned at different edges rather than using a single wide continuous frame. This allows the display area to extend closer to the edges while maintaining protection through distributed support, thereby increasing the screen-to-body ratio.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Protection is provided locally at specific edges of the flexible display where side frames are positioned, rather than using a uniform wide frame around the entire perimeter. This localized protection approach minimizes the blocked display area while ensuring safety at critical locations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Strength

If a protruding side frame is arranged around the flexible display, then structural support is provided, but hand interference and scratching issues occur during touch operations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural supportVSAvoidtouch operation near edge
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The structural support function is distributed across multiple narrow side frames positioned at different edges rather than using a single protruding frame. This segmentation reduces the protrusion height at each location, eliminating hand interference during touch operations while maintaining overall structural integrity through the distributed support system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4693258A1Foldable device
Publication Date: 2026.02.11 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP4693258A1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP4693258A1 patent drawingFigure 4
  • EP4693258A1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A foldable device is provided, and relates to the technical field of electronic devices, to resolve problems of a large thickness dimension and a low screen-to-body ratio of the foldable device. The foldable device may include a flexible display (01), a first housing (10), a second housing (20), and a hinge (30). The first housing (10) and the second housing (20) are symmetrically disposed with respect to the hinge (30). The flexible display (01) includes a backplane (011). The backplane (011) has a first board surface (0111) and a second board surface (0112) that face away from each other. The back of a display panel (012) is disposed on the first board surface (0111). The first housing (10) includes a first body (11) and a first side frame (12) that are fastened. The first body (11) has a first mounting surface (111). The second board surface (0112) of the backplane (011) is disposed on the first mounting surface (111). The first side frame (12) has a first limiting surface (121). The backplane (011) is limited between the first limiting surface (121) and the first mounting surface (111). The first side frame (12) effectively limits the backplane (011) of the flexible display (01), to facilitate reduction of the thickness dimension of the foldable device; and further reduce blocking of the flexible display (01) by the first side frame (12) and the second side frame (22), facilitating an increase in the screen-to-body ratio of the foldable device.