Mobile Terminal Receiver Layout for Higher Screen-to-Body Ratio

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Solution Overview

Problem

As mobile terminals integrate more components to offer diverse functions, they become larger and thicker, failing to meet user demands for thinner and lighter designs due to increased body size.

Innovation Solution

The terminal device includes a main unit and a detachable sub-unit with a display screen, main and auxiliary circuit boards, and a piezoelectric ceramic receiver, where the receiver is positioned in an avoiding groove on the circuit boards, eliminating the need for a receiver hole on the display screen, thus increasing the screen-to-body ratio.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If more components are integrated into the mobile terminal to provide diverse functions, then the functionality and versatility of the terminal are improved, but the body size of the terminal increases, making it thicker and heavier

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovefunctionalityVSAvoidterminal weight
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies nesting by placing the piezoelectric ceramic receiver inside an avoiding groove that is formed within the circuit board structure itself. The groove is created by removing material from the circuit board, allowing the receiver to be embedded within the existing component layer rather than adding external bulk. This nested arrangement enables the receiver to be integrated into the circuit board's internal space, reducing the overall terminal thickness and weight while maintaining all required functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Adaptability or versatility

If more components are integrated into the mobile terminal to provide diverse functions, then the functionality and versatility of the terminal are improved, but the body size of the terminal increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovefunctionalityVSAvoidterminal thickness
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The piezoelectric ceramic receiver is nested within an avoiding groove formed in the circuit board. The groove is created by selectively removing material from the circuit board at the position where the receiver will be placed. This allows the receiver to be embedded within the circuit board's thickness rather than extending beyond it, thereby reducing the overall terminal thickness while accommodating the additional functional component.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from a two-dimensional surface mounting approach to a three-dimensional embedded arrangement. Instead of placing the receiver on the surface of the circuit board (which would increase terminal thickness), the receiver is positioned within the thickness dimension of the circuit board itself by creating an avoiding groove. This dimensional reorganization allows the receiver to occupy space within the existing thickness budget rather than adding to it.

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

3Ease of manufacture

If a receiver hole is provided on the display screen to accommodate the piezoelectric ceramic receiver, then the receiver can be mounted, but the screen-to-body ratio is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereceiver mountingVSAvoidscreen-to-body ratio
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the receiver mounting function from the display screen by relocating the receiver to the circuit board. The avoiding groove is formed in the circuit board rather than in the display screen, thereby removing the need for a receiver hole in the screen. This extraction preserves the full display screen area while still providing a mounting location for the receiver in the circuit board layer.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The circuit board serves as an intermediary structure that provides the mounting location for the receiver. Instead of directly mounting the receiver on the display screen (which would require a hole in the screen), the circuit board acts as an intermediate platform with an avoiding groove that accommodates the receiver. This intermediary arrangement allows the receiver to be mounted without compromising the display screen integrity or reducing the screen-to-body ratio.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This configuration allows for a thinner and lighter terminal design by optimizing space utilization and eliminating the need for a receiver hole on the display screen, enhancing the screen-to-body ratio and enabling more compact internal component arrangement.

Implementation Method 1

a piezoelectric ceramic receiver connected to the main circuit board or the auxiliary circuit board

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPiezoelectric effect: Piezoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentEP3886407B1Mobile terminal
Publication Date: 2023.11.29 GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP LTD
  • EP3886407B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3886407B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3886407B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

Provided is a terminal device. The terminal device includes a main unit, and a sub unit detachably connected to the main unit. The sub unit includes a display screen, a main circuit board, an auxiliary circuit board, and a piezoelectric ceramic receiver connected to the main circuit board or the auxiliary circuit board. The display screen has a display surface. The main circuit board, the auxiliary circuit board, and the piezoelectric ceramic receiver are located on a side of the display screen facing away from the display surface. The piezoelectric ceramic receiver is attached to the display screen. A region surrounded by a continuous hole wall of the main circuit board or the auxiliary circuit board defines an avoiding groove; or the main circuit board or the auxiliary circuit board has a notch provided on an edge thereof, and a region surrounded by the notch defines the avoiding groove. The piezoelectric ceramic receiver is located in the avoiding groove, and the avoiding groove surrounds at least a part of the piezoelectric ceramic receiver. The terminal device has a high space utilization rate. Further provided is another terminal device.