Monocoque Housing Transparent Area Display Support

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional mobile device housings are prone to damage due to reduced structural rigidity and inadequate support for touch panels, leading to susceptibility to damage from everyday wear and handling, while increasing strength typically compromises portability and space for electronics.

Innovation Solution

A monocoque housing with a predefined transparent area allows for full support of the touch panel and internal components, providing enhanced durability and visibility, using materials like Polycarbonate and secure fastening mechanisms to maintain structural integrity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the housing strength is increased by making the housing thicker or larger, then the structural rigidity and durability are improved, but the volume of the housing increases which reduces portability and space for electronics

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehousing strengthVSAvoidhousing volume
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is divided into two functional parts: a transparent display area that allows visibility and a rigid housing structure that provides protection. This segmentation allows the housing to maintain strength while minimizing volume by using the transparent area efficiently.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The housing combines transparent material (for the display area) with rigid material (for the structural housing). This composite approach allows the housing to achieve both strength and transparency without increasing overall volume, as the transparent material provides both protective and display functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Ease of operation

If large sections of the housing are removed to allow access to the display and keyboard, then user accessibility is improved, but the structural rigidity of the housing is significantly reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccessibility to display and keyboardVSAvoidstructural rigidity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is segmented into a transparent display area and a rigid housing structure. This allows the display area to be accessible while the rigid structure maintains overall structural integrity, as the transparent area is integrated into the housing rather than being a separate removable section.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The transparent display area acts as a flexible element that allows access to the display while the rigid housing structure provides the necessary structural support. This flexible-shell approach enables accessibility without compromising overall structural rigidity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Ease of manufacture

If only a small portion of the touch panel is affixed to the housing, then assembly simplicity is maintained, but the touch panel becomes susceptible to dislodging, wearing, bending or cracking due to lack of support

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly simplicityVSAvoidtouch panel durability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The touch panel assembly combines the transparent display area with the rigid housing structure to create a composite structure that provides full support for the touch panel. This composite approach ensures the touch panel is securely supported across its entire surface, preventing dislodging, wearing, bending, or cracking while maintaining assembly simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The transparent display area is merged with the housing structure to create an integrated assembly that provides full support for the touch panel. This merging ensures the touch panel is securely supported while maintaining assembly simplicity, as the support structure is built into the housing rather than added as a separate component.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP1897345B1Arrangement including rigid housing and display
Publication Date: 2012.10.03 SYMBOL TECH INC
  • EP1897345B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1b
  • EP1897345B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP1897345B1 patent drawingFigure 3a

AI summary

Described is a device including a housing (350) and a display arrangement (320) . The housing (350) is integrally formed (i.e., a single-piece housing) and has a predefined substantially transparent area. The housing (350) has also at least one opening (352) . The display arrangement (320) is situated inside of the housing (350) and is inserted into the housing (350) through the opening (352) and aligned with the predefined area.