Foldable Electronic Device Linkage for Flexible Screen Accommodation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional foldable electronic devices lack an effective mechanism to accommodate the flexible screen during folding, leading to potential damage and instability due to inadequate yielding space and support structures.
Innovation Solution
A foldable electronic device with a linkage mechanism comprising driving shafts, wing rods, and connecting rods that create a yielding space for the flexible screen, supported by a weakening structure on the supporting plate, allowing the screen to bend and accommodate the flexible section during folding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a conventional hinge module is omitted and four connecting rods are used to provide yielding space, then the device structure is simplified, but the flexible screen lacks adequate support and protection during folding
Solution Approach 1:
The supporting plate is divided into multiple support regions with different reinforcement levels. The first support region has first reinforcement ribs while the second support region has second reinforcement ribs, creating segmented support zones that provide localized structural support to the flexible screen during folding operations.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the supporting plate have different structural qualities. The first and second support regions are reinforced with reinforcement ribs at specific locations, while other areas remain lighter, creating local variations in structural strength to match the specific support needs of the flexible screen at different positions.
2Volume of moving object
If the flexible screen is folded to accommodate a smaller form factor, then the device portability is improved, but the flexible screen may be damaged due to inadequate yielding space
Solution Approach 1:
The yielding space is pre-formed by the linkage mechanism components (first and second lifting plates, first and second wing rods) positioned around the flexible screen before folding occurs. This pre-configured space acts as a cushioning zone that protects the flexible screen from damage during the folding process by providing adequate clearance and support.
Solution Approach 2:
The linkage mechanism components serve as intermediary elements between the rigid device housing and the flexible screen. These components (lifting plates, wing rods, connecting rods) mediate the folding motion by providing a controlled yielding space that allows the flexible screen to bend without direct contact with potentially damaging surfaces.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the flexible screen is supported by a rigid structure, then the screen stability is improved, but the screen cannot bend properly during folding
Solution Approach 1:
The supporting plate implements local quality variations through reinforcement ribs positioned at specific support regions. These ribs provide rigid support where needed to maintain screen stability, while the rest of the plate remains sufficiently flexible to allow proper bending during folding operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The support structure is segmented into different regions with different rigidity characteristics. The reinforcement ribs create discrete support zones that provide stability where required, while the overall structure maintains the necessary flexibility for folding through the linkage mechanism's controlled motion.
Data Source
AI summary
A foldable electronic device includes a central body, a linkage unit, a plurality of operating mechanisms, and a plurality of panel bodies. The linkage unit includes a plurality of driving shafts. Each of the operating mechanism has a wing rod, a lifting plate, and a connecting rod. The wing rod is fixed to the lifting plate. The wing rod and the connecting rod pivotally connecting to the central body and the driving shaft respectively. When the panel bodies are in a folded status, a flexible screen is bent, and the wing rod, the lifting plate, and the central body collectively define a yielding space for accommodating a flexible section of the flexible section. The supporting plate at the bottom of the flexible screen has a weakening structure corresponding to the flexible section.