Foldable Screen Support Mechanism for Crease-Reducing Inward Folding

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Solution Overview

Problem

Inward-foldable electronic devices suffer from a short service life due to the formation of creases on the display screen during folding.

Innovation Solution

A foldable mechanism with inclined avoidance support surfaces on housing seats and screen support plates that rotate relative to each other, allowing for a flaring structure in the folded state to accommodate the display module, reducing folding stress and preventing creases, while maintaining a compact size and high portability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Length of moving object

If a folding mechanism is provided within the display assembly of an electronic device, then the thinness of the electronic device is improved, but the structural complexity and reliability deteriorate due to increased risk of damage during folding/unfolding

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethinness of electronic deviceVSAvoidrisk of damage during folding/unfolding
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The display assembly is segmented into a first display portion and a second display portion that can be folded relative to each other. The folding mechanism divides the continuous display into separable sections, allowing the device to achieve thinness while managing the mechanical stress of folding through controlled segmentation of the display structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The folding mechanism is integrated within the display assembly structure, with the first and second display portions nested or coupled together through the folding mechanism. This nesting approach allows the folding functionality to be embedded within the existing display structure rather than adding external components, thereby improving reliability by reducing exposure to external damage while maintaining thinness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Ease of operation

If the display assembly is folded along a folding line, then the portability and compactness are improved, but the display quality deteriorates due to visual disturbances at the folding line

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveportability and compactnessVSAvoiddisplay quality at folding line
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

A black equalizing strip is provided at the folding line position, creating a local visual feature that masks the folding line. This local quality change (adding a black strip) specifically addresses the visual disturbance at the folding location without affecting the overall display quality, allowing the display to maintain high precision while enabling folding for portability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The black equalizing strip utilizes color (black) to mask or equalize the visual appearance at the folding line. By introducing a dark strip at the folding position, the visual disturbance caused by the fold is minimized or eliminated, maintaining display quality while enabling the folding function for improved portability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

3Device complexity

If the folding mechanism is integrated within the display assembly, then the overall device complexity is reduced, but the manufacturing precision deteriorates due to alignment requirements at the folding line

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveintegration of folding mechanismVSAvoidalignment at folding line
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The black equalizing strip is pre-positioned at the folding line location before final assembly. This preliminary placement of the equalizing strip establishes a reference feature that guides the alignment of the first and second display portions during assembly, thereby reducing the actual alignment precision required during manufacturing while maintaining the integrated folding mechanism design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4311207B1Folding mechanism, support structure and electronic device
Publication Date: 2026.05.06 VIVO MOBILE COMM CO LTD
  • EP4311207B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4311207B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4311207B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present application discloses a foldable mechanism, a bracket structure and an electronic device, which belong to the technical field of communication devices. The foldable mechanism includes a first screen support plate, a second screen support plate, a third screen support plate, a first housing seat rotatably arranged on the first screen support plate, a second housing seat rotatably arranged on the second screen support plate, and a base. The first housing seat and the second housing seat are both rotatably connected with the base; in the unfolded state, first sides of the first screen support plate and the second screen support plate are located between second sides, the third screen support plate is located between the first screen support plate and the second screen support plate, first surfaces of the first screen support plate, the second screen support plate and the third screen support plate are arranged in a flush manner; and in the folded state, a spacing between the first sides is greater than a spacing between the second sides.