Overlapped Foldable OLED Display Films Sliding Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Folding OLED display films in portable information handling systems face manufacturing complexity and cost issues due to compressive and expansive stresses, which affect visual performance and require protective coverings, while existing solutions fail to maintain consistent display quality during folding.
Innovation Solution
A system with first and second rotationally coupled housing portions featuring overlapping OLED display films that slide relative to each other at the rotational axis, using a solid lubricant like graphene to reduce friction and sensors to adjust pixel values for seamless image blending, thereby minimizing stress and maintaining undistorted visual performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If OLED display films are folded in portable information handling systems, then display flexibility and portability are improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase due to compressive and expansive stresses affecting visual performance
Solution Approach 1:
The display system is divided into multiple independent OLED display films (first display film and second display film) that can be separately manufactured and assembled. This segmentation allows each film to be produced using standard manufacturing processes without requiring complex folding-capable production equipment, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity while enabling display flexibility through the overlapping arrangement of multiple films.
2Adaptability or versatility
If OLED display films are folded, then portable usage is enabled, but visual performance deteriorates due to compressive and expansive stresses causing waving across the fold area
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the display into multiple separate OLED films that overlap rather than continuously fold, the patent eliminates the waving effect that occurs in single-fold displays. Each film remains flat and stress-free in its own region, and the overlapping area is managed through relative sliding motion rather than continuous folding, thereby maintaining visual performance consistency while enabling portable usage.
Solution Approach 2:
A solid lubricant is introduced as an intermediary substance between the overlapping portions of the first and second display films. This lubricant reduces friction and enables the films to slide smoothly relative to each other during folding operations, preventing stress concentration and visual distortion at the overlap region while maintaining the portable folding capability.
3Reliability
If protective coverings are added to folded OLED display films, then damage prevention is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple OLED display films into a single integrated display assembly where the films overlap and slide relative to each other. This merged structure inherently protects the OLED materials by distributing mechanical stress across multiple layers and eliminating the need for additional protective coverings, as the overlapping arrangement itself provides structural support and protection during folding operations.
4Area of stationary object
If large surface area OLED display films are integrated into foldable housing, then display size is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases due to equipment requirements and structural mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The large surface area display is segmented into multiple smaller OLED display films that are separately manufactured using standard equipment. These segmented films are then assembled in an overlapping configuration, which allows the system to achieve a large effective display area without requiring complex manufacturing equipment capable of producing single large-foldable films, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining large display surface area.
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
The solution allows for a portable information handling system to fold without deforming the display, reducing stress on the OLED films and maintaining consistent visual quality by blending images at the overlapping portion, thus enhancing the display's flexibility and usability.
Implementation Method 1
In one example embodiment, a solid lubricant, such as graphene, is disposed between the overlapping portions to reduce friction at the display films as they slide.
Data Source
AI summary
A portable information handling system having rotationally coupled housing portions disposes first and second OLED display films in an overlapped configuration having the display films slide relative to each other as the housing portions rotate. Presentation of visual images at one or both of the OLED display films in the overlapped portion is adjusted to blend with the images presented at non-overlapping portions of the OLED display films.