Foldable Mobile Terminal Resolving Display Area and Portability Trade-off

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional mobile terminals with display screens face a trade-off between providing a large displaying area and portability, as larger hardware is required for a larger display, compromising convenience.

Innovation Solution

A mobile terminal design featuring a support assembly with a first and second housing connected by a bendable member, allowing the assembly to fold and unfold, enabling a large display area when needed and compact storage for easy carrying, with a movable seat that rotates to accommodate a camera and other functional devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If the display screen size is increased to provide a larger displaying area, then the displaying area is improved, but the hardware size must be increased which reduces portability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplaying areaVSAvoidhardware size
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The mobile terminal is divided into two separate housings (first housing and second housing) that can be folded together. The display screen is segmented to span across both housings when unfolded, providing a large displaying area while allowing the device to be folded into a compact form for portability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes the folding mechanism to transition between two-dimensional display area and three-dimensional compact form. When unfolded, the display provides maximum area; when folded, the device reduces its length by half while maintaining the same display capability, effectively using spatial dimensionality to resolve the contradiction.

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

2Area of stationary object

If the hardware size is increased to accommodate a larger display screen, then the displaying area is improved, but the portability and convenience of carrying are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplaying areaVSAvoidportability
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The support assembly incorporates a bending member that enables dynamic folding and unfolding between the first and second housings. This dynamic structure allows the device to transition between a compact portable state and an expanded display state, making the large display adaptable to different usage scenarios without permanently increasing carried size.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

When folded, the first housing and second housing are nested together in a compact configuration, with the display screen folded along the bending member. This nesting approach allows the large display device to be stored in a compact form factor similar to a smaller device, significantly improving portability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Length of moving object

If the housing structure is made compact for portability, then the ease of carrying is improved, but the displaying area is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice lengthVSAvoiddisplaying area
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The display screen is segmented into portions that can be folded across the bending member between the two housings. When unfolded, these segments form a continuous large display area; when folded, the same segments are compacted into a smaller form, allowing the device length to be reduced without permanently sacrificing display area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the spatial configuration parameter of the display screen from a compact folded state to an extended unfolded state. This parameter change allows the displaying area to be maximized only when needed, while the device maintains a compact form for carrying, effectively decoupling the displayed area from the carried size.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3565226B1Mobile terminal
Publication Date: 2021.01.13 GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP LTD
  • EP3565226B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3565226B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3565226B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A mobile terminal is disclosed. When the support assembly (1) of the mobile terminal is unfolded, an entire display screen can perform displaying, so that the mobile terminal can realize large-screen displaying. When the support assembly (1) is folded, the first housing (11) and the second housing (12) are stacked, so that the length of the support assembly (1) is only about a half of the support assembly (1) when it is unfolded, making the mobile terminal convenient to carry. Therefore, the mobile terminal has a large displaying area and is convenient to carry.