Foldable Screen Traction Mechanism Prevents Layer Arching

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Solution Overview

Problem

Foldable electronic device screens experience corrugation and arching after repeated folding, leading to detachment of adhesive layers and a non-flat screen surface, which severely affects user experience.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of traction mechanisms on the housings of the foldable electronic device, which proactively drag the innermost layer of the screen to slide along the folding direction, assisting in the dislocation of layers and preventing arching and detachment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the foldable screen is folded multiple times, then the screen can be used for different display scenarios, but corrugation and arching occur on the screen causing detachment between layers

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefolding capabilityVSAvoidscreen flatness
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A traction mechanism is introduced as an intermediary component between the housing and the innermost layer of the foldable screen. This mechanism includes a sliding block that moves along a guiding groove on the housing, actively dragging the innermost layer during folding to prevent layer detachment and screen arching, thereby resolving the contradiction between folding capability and screen flatness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The traction mechanism performs preliminary action by proactively dragging the innermost layer of the screen along the folding direction before the folding process completes. This prevents corrugation and arching from occurring in the first place, maintaining screen flatness while enabling repeated folding operations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Stability of the object's composition

If the outermost layer is fixed to the housing, then the screen structure is stable, but the innermost layer cannot move freely causing arching during folding

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescreen structure stabilityVSAvoidlayer dislocation freedom
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The connection between the housing and screen layers is segmented into two distinct systems: the outermost layer is fixedly connected to the housing for structural stability, while the innermost layer is connected to a movable sliding block that can translate along the guiding groove. This segmentation allows different parts of the screen to have different degrees of freedom, resolving the contradiction between structural stability and layer dislocation freedom

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The connection system is made dynamic by introducing a sliding block that can move along a guiding groove. The sliding block is driven by a driving mechanism (such as a motor or spring) to actively drag the innermost layer during folding, transforming the static fixed connection into a dynamic movable connection that adapts to folding requirements while maintaining overall structural stability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3958089B1Foldable electronic device
Publication Date: 2025.01.22 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3958089B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3958089B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3958089B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

This application provides a foldable electronic device, including: a foldable screen, where the foldable screen is made of a plurality of layers of materials; and a first housing and a second housing, where the first housing and the second housing are connected by using a folding shaft, traction mechanisms are disposed on the first housing and the second housing, an outermost layer of the foldable screen is fixedly connected to the first housing and the second housing, an innermost layer of the foldable screen is fixedly connected to the traction mechanisms, the traction mechanisms slide on the first housing and the second housing along a first direction, the traction mechanisms are configured to drag the layers of the foldable screen to be dislocated mutually, and the first direction is a direction perpendicular to the folding shaft. According to the foldable electronic device provided in this application, in a process of folding the foldable screen of the electronic device, the traction mechanisms disposed on the housings proactively drag the innermost layer of the foldable screen to slide along a folding direction. This assists the foldable screen in dislocation of the layers of the screen in the folding process, so that arching and other problems of the screen are avoided.