Foldable Device Hinge Magnets for Display Crease Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing foldable electronic devices face challenges in maintaining the integrity and visibility of flexible displays due to creases formed during folding, which affect user experience.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of magnets in the hinge assembly and support plate structure to provide attractive forces that stabilize the flexible display during folding, minimizing crease formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the flexible display is bent during folding operation, then the device achieves compact form factor, but creases are formed on the display surface
Solution Approach 1:
A magnetic assembly is introduced as an intermediary between the flexible display and the hinge assembly. The magnets generate magnetic force that acts on the bending portion of the flexible display, providing a stabilizing effect during folding and unfolding operations. This magnetic intermediary prevents direct mechanical contact that would cause creases, thereby maintaining display surface integrity while enabling compact folding.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes magnetic force as a physical parameter to control the behavior of the flexible display during folding. By adjusting the strength and positioning of magnets in the hinge assembly, the magnetic force can be optimized to provide sufficient stabilizing effect on the bending portion, reducing crease formation while maintaining the desired compact form factor when folded.
2Shape
If magnets are added to the hinge assembly to stabilize the flexible display, then crease formation is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The magnetic assembly is merged with the existing hinge assembly structure. The magnets are integrated into the hinge components, combining the functions of mechanical connection and magnetic stabilization into a single unified structure. This reduces the need for separate stabilizing mechanisms and minimizes the increase in device complexity while effectively reducing crease formation.
3Shape
If magnets are positioned close to the flexible display to maximize stabilizing effect, then crease reduction is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The magnetic assembly is positioned to create a localized magnetic field specifically at the bending portion of the flexible display where creases are most likely to form. By concentrating the stabilizing magnetic force at this critical location rather than uniformly across the entire display, the patent achieves effective crease reduction while maintaining more relaxed manufacturing precision requirements for overall magnet positioning.
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 magnetic stabilization mechanism reduces creases in the flexible display, enhancing user experience by maintaining display integrity and visibility during folding and unfolding operations.
Implementation Method 1
An attractive force between the first magnet and the second magnet may be caused based on an unfolded state of the foldable electronic device
Data Source
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AI summary
A foldable electronic device includes a foldable housing including a first housing part and a second housing part, a hinge assembly including hinge plates rotatably connecting the first housing part and the second housing part, each of the hinge plates including a first magnet, and a flexible display. The flexible display includes a display panel including a bending portion configured to be bent by rotation of the first housing part and the second housing part, a support plate disposed under the bending portion of the display panel and including a portion including a plurality of slits, and a second magnet overlapping the bending portion and the portion of the support plate, the second magnet being paired with the first magnet.