Hinged Device With Deployable Bridge Support For Flexible Display
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Solution Overview
Problem
Flexible display devices face challenges in maintaining a consistent tactile experience and minimizing stress during rotation, as existing hinge assemblies often lead to crimping or uneven interaction due to varying bend radii and lack of uniform support.
Innovation Solution
A hinge assembly that adjusts length and includes a deformable member with a corrugated pattern and deployable bridge structures to maintain a minimum bend radius and uniform tactile feel, securing the flexible display across multiple orientations while allowing it to bend without damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a conventional hinge assembly is used to rotate device portions, then the flexible display can be folded, but the display experiences varying bend radii and crimping that damage the display
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge assembly dynamically adjusts its effective length during rotation through deployable bridge structures that extend or retract based on the rotation angle. This dynamic adjustment ensures the flexible display maintains a consistent minimum bend radius throughout the folding motion, preventing crimping and damage while enabling full foldability.
Solution Approach 2:
Deployable bridge structures act as intermediary elements between the hinge assembly and the flexible display. These bridges temporarily support the display during rotation, maintaining proper curvature and preventing direct contact between the display and potentially damaging hinge components, thus protecting display integrity during folding operations.
2Device complexity
If the hinge assembly length is fixed, then the structure is simple, but the flexible display experiences uneven tactile feel and stress during rotation
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge assembly transitions from a fixed-length structure to a dynamic-length structure where bridge components deploy or retract based on rotation angle. This allows the effective length to vary continuously during operation, maintaining uniform tactile feedback across the display surface while distributing mechanical stress evenly, justifying the increased structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge assembly changes its effective length parameter during rotation by deploying or retracting bridge structures. This parameter change ensures consistent tactile properties and stress distribution across the flexible display throughout the rotation range, improving ease of operation despite added mechanical complexity.
3Device complexity
If the hinge assembly does not adjust for bend radius, then the mechanism is simpler, but the flexible display crimps and suffers reduced durability
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge mechanism dynamically adjusts its geometry through deployable bridges to maintain a consistent minimum bend radius for the flexible display throughout rotation. This dynamic adaptation prevents crimping and structural damage, significantly extending device durability while requiring more complex mechanical components.
Solution Approach 2:
The bridge structures are designed to deploy in advance before the display reaches critical bend radii during rotation. This preliminary action ensures the display maintains proper curvature throughout the folding motion, preventing crimping and enhancing durability before damage can occur.
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2A~2B
AI summary
The description relates to hinged devices, such as hinged computing devices. One example can include a first portion and a second portion that have hinge ends rotatably secured by a hinge assembly. The example can also include a flexible display positioned over the first portion, the hinge assembly, and the second portion. The example can further include a deployable bridge support that is deployed to support the flexible display at the hinge assembly when the first and second portions are rotated from a closed orientation to an open orientation.