Foldable Terminal Hinge Structure That Protects Flexible OLED Panels

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Solution Overview

Problem

Foldable terminal devices with flexible OLED panels face issues of screen dysfunction due to frequent stretching and squeezing during folding and unfolding, leading to reduced holding comfortability and portability.

Innovation Solution

A foldable terminal device design featuring a scalable connection mechanism that separates display and bending areas, allowing adjustable distances between support components, preventing the flexible panel from being stretched or squeezed by incorporating sliding blocks and rotating shaft mechanisms to manage bending angles and displacements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a flexible panel is attached to two or more support modules connected by a connection mechanism to implement folding, then folding function is achieved, but the flexible panel slides relative to support modules and screen function becomes invalid due to frequent stretching and squeezing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefolding functionVSAvoidscreen function validity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible panel is divided into three distinct regions: a first display area, a bending area, and a second display area. The bending area is specifically positioned between the two display areas to accommodate folding movements, while the display areas remain protected from deformation. This segmentation allows the folding function to be achieved without compromising screen integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A connection mechanism with scalable amplitude is introduced as an intermediary between the first support component and the second support component. The maximum scalable amplitude of the connection mechanism corresponds to the width of the bending area, enabling the connection mechanism to absorb the dimensional changes during folding without transmitting stretching or squeezing forces to the display areas, thus maintaining screen function validity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Area of stationary object

If a large screen terminal device is used to browse web pages or watch videos, then visual effect and user experience are improved, but holding comfortability and portability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescreen areaVSAvoidholding comfortability
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal device employs a foldable structure that allows dynamic transformation between different configurations. The flexible panel can be folded along the bending area, enabling the device to transition from a large-screen configuration for optimal viewing experience to a compact folded configuration for improved portability and holding comfortability. This dynamic adaptability resolves the contradiction between screen size and ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3739854B1Foldable terminal device
Publication Date: 2023.05.03 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3739854B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3739854B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP3739854B1 patent drawingFigure 2C

AI summary

This application discloses a foldable terminal device, including: a foldable flexible panel, a first support component, a second support component, and a connection mechanism, where the flexible panel includes a first display area, a second display area, and a bending area, and the bending area is located between the first display area and the second display area; the connection mechanism connects the first support component and the second support component, the connection mechanism connects the first support component and the second support component, the connection mechanism is scalable, and a maximum scalable amplitude of the connection mechanism is corresponding to a width of the bending area; and in a process of folding or unfolding the terminal device, a bending angle of the flexible panel is enabled to be in a one-to-one correspondence with a scaling displacement of the connection mechanism, to prevent the flexible panel from being stretched or squeezed in the process of folding or unfolding the terminal device.