Foldable Plate and Tray Ejection Layout for Compact Reliability

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Foldable electronic devices face issues with conductive plates that cannot be folded, leading to folding marks and operational malfunctions due to separate disposition, which deteriorate reliability and increase production costs.

Innovation Solution

A foldable conductive plate design with flexible and flat portions connected by adhesive members, allowing it to bend with the display, integrated with polymer members and reinforcing plates for support, ensuring seamless folding without marks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Length of moving object

If the eject bar is disposed to overlap with the tray body when viewed from above, then the eject bar can be disposed at a shorter length, but it may contact the distal end of the tray body and fail to transmit ejecting force when the tray is fully ejected

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelength of eject barVSAvoidtransmission of ejecting force
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the spatial arrangement from a top-down overlap configuration to a side-by-side configuration where the eject bar is disposed adjacent to the tray body rather than overlapping it when viewed from above. This dimensional repositioning allows the eject bar to maintain sufficient length for reliable force transmission while still achieving compact overall device dimensions through optimized spatial layout.

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

2Stability of the object's composition

If the rotation lever presses the tray at the distal end, then the tray can be stably received on the eject bar, but the eject bar must be longer which increases device volume

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestability of tray receptionVSAvoidvolume of device
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent repositions the rotation lever to press the tray body at a location adjacent to the eject bar rather than at the distal end. This spatial reconfiguration allows the tray to be stably received on the eject bar while using a shorter eject bar length, thereby reducing the overall device volume while maintaining stability.

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

3Reliability

If the eject bar is disposed away from the tray body, then the eject bar can be longer for stable tray reception, but it increases the overall device volume

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetray reception stabilityVSAvoidvolume of device
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a rotation lever that can rotate about a pivot point to dynamically adjust the pressing position on the tray body. This dynamic mechanism allows the system to achieve stable tray reception with a shorter eject bar by utilizing the rotational motion to apply force at the optimal position, thereby reducing device volume while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4361765B1Electronic device including foldable plate
Publication Date: 2026.04.29 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP4361765B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4361765B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4361765B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

According to various embodiments, an electronic device may include a housing including an opening connected to an internal space; a tray socket disposed to be connected to the outside through the opening in the internal space and including a tray reception space; a tray inserted into the tray reception space, wherein the tray includes a tray body including at least one space configured to receive at least one external component; and a tray cover including a pin insertion hole configured to guide a tray ejecting pin to the opening; an eject bar movably disposed in a tray mounting direction or ejecting direction in the tray reception space and facing the pin insertion hole; and a rotation lever configured to press the tray in the ejection direction according to pressing of the eject bar in the tray reception space, wherein the eject bar is disposed at a position at least partially overlapped with the tray body when viewed from above the tray socket.