Foldable Mobile Terminal Sliding Case Mechanism

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional mobile terminals face challenges in smoothly changing their shape to accommodate diverse functionalities, such as folding and bending, which can lead to display damage and structural issues due to differences in radii and external forces.

Innovation Solution

A mobile terminal design featuring a flexible display on a surface with a sliding rear case that adjusts to changes in state, including a protrusion and sliding area mechanism, corrugated areas, and a controller to manage display content based on state changes, ensuring the display remains intact and functional across various configurations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the mobile terminal body is made foldable or bendable to accommodate diverse functionalities, then the adaptability and versatility of the device is improved, but the display may be damaged and structural integrity deteriorates due to differences in radii and external forces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunctional adaptabilityVSAvoiddisplay integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The mobile terminal body is divided into multiple cases (first case, second case, third case) that can slide relative to each other. This segmentation allows each case to independently manage stress and deformation during folding or bending, preventing force concentration that would damage the display or compromise structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The cases are designed to slide relative to one another during state transitions between flat and folded configurations. This dynamic adjustment allows the structure to adapt to changing geometric constraints, maintaining display integrity by accommodating radius differences and external forces through controlled case movement rather than rigid resistance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If the mobile terminal body is made foldable or bendable to accommodate diverse functionalities, then the adaptability and versatility of the device is improved, but the structural integrity deteriorates due to differences in radii and external forces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunctional adaptabilityVSAvoidstructural integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Stability of the object's composition

If a rigid case structure is used to maintain structural integrity, then the structural stability is improved, but the ability to smoothly change shape is restricted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidshape change capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The mobile terminal employs a flexible display that can bend and fold without damage. This flexible display is coupled to the case structure, allowing the terminal to change shape smoothly while maintaining structural integrity through the combination of rigid case segments and flexible display elements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

4Adaptability or versatility

If the case structure is designed to allow smooth shape changes, then the adaptability is improved, but the complexity of the case structure increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshape change smoothnessVSAvoidcase structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The case structure employs nested sliding mechanisms where cases are positioned within and relative to one another. The first case, second case, and third case are arranged in a nested configuration that allows smooth shape changes through relative sliding motion, achieving adaptability without excessive structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentUS10681194B2Mobile terminal

Publication Date: 2020.06.09 LG ELECTRONICS INC

AI summary

A mobile terminal including a foldable case having a front case and rear case and configured to be in one of an opened flat state in which a protrusion of the rear case is slid inward into a sliding area of the front case, a folded state in which the protrusion of the rear case is slid outward from the sliding area, and an intermediate state between the opened flat state and the folded state; a flexible display on a surface of the foldable case; and electrical components between the front case and the rear case.