Rack Cover Blocking Mechanism for Sliding Electronic Device

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Solution Overview

Problem

Slidable electronic devices using a rack-pinion structure face issues with foreign substances entering the gear components, leading to driving defects and performance deterioration due to interlocking challenges and friction, making it difficult to implement simple sealing structures that prevent substance inflow while allowing smooth rectilinear sliding motion.

Innovation Solution

A foreign substance blocking mechanism is introduced, comprising a rack cover and blocking mechanisms on the rack and pinion gears, using fiber materials with low friction to prevent foreign substances from entering the gear components while maintaining smooth sliding motion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a compression member such as a sponge is used to surround the gear shaft to prevent foreign substance inflow, then foreign substances are blocked from entering the rack-pinion structure, but friction between the compression member and the gear shaft increases causing dust generation and reduced sliding smoothness

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveforeign substance preventionVSAvoidfriction and dust generation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a thin film structure (blocking member) that surrounds the gear shaft to prevent foreign substance inflow. This thin film structure provides effective sealing while minimizing friction compared to bulky compression members like sponges, thereby reducing dust generation and maintaining smooth sliding motion of the rack gear.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The blocking member is designed with different properties at different locations: it maintains high sealing effectiveness where it contacts the gear shaft to prevent foreign substance entry, while having low friction characteristics on its outer surface that contacts the rack gear to minimize dust generation and maintain smooth operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of manufacture

If a simple sealing structure is used to prevent foreign substance inflow, then the structure is easy to manufacture, but it cannot effectively block foreign substances from entering the rack-pinion structure due to the movable nature of the gear shaft

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing structure simplicityVSAvoidforeign substance prevention

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The blocking member is designed as a flexible structure that can dynamically adapt to the movable gear shaft. As the gear shaft moves during rack-pinion operation, the blocking member flexes and deforms accordingly, maintaining continuous contact and effective sealing without requiring complex mechanical adjustments or multiple components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The blocking member serves as an intermediary element between the stationary rack cover and the moving gear shaft. It provides the sealing function by being positioned in the gap between these two components, effectively blocking foreign substances from entering the rack-pinion structure while allowing the gear shaft to move freely.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If the pinion gear shaft is disposed on one surface of the rack gear and made movable to enable sliding motion, then the rack gear can perform rectilinear sliding motion smoothly, but foreign substances can be easily introduced into the rack-pinion structure through the exposed shaft area

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesliding motion smoothnessVSAvoidforeign substance introduction

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The blocking member is nested within the rack cover structure, surrounding the gear shaft in a protective manner. This nested configuration allows the gear shaft to move freely for smooth sliding operation while the blocking member is positioned inside the rack cover to prevent foreign substances from entering the rack-pinion structure through the exposed shaft area.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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 mechanism effectively prevents foreign substances from entering the rack and pinion gears, ensuring smooth rectilinear sliding motion and maintaining driving performance by reducing frictional resistance.

Implementation Method 1

using fiber materials with low friction to prevent foreign substances from entering the gear components while maintaining smooth sliding motion

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP4283960B1Electronic device comprising structure for preventing introduction of foreign matter

Publication Date: 2025.06.25 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

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AI summary

An electronic device according to various embodiments of the present disclosure includes a first housing, a second housing slidably coupled to the first housing, a flexible display configured to expand or reduce a size of a display area based on slide-in or slide-out of the second housing, a drive motor, a pinion gear coupled to the drive motor, a rack gear driven to engage with the pinion gear, and a rack cover coupled to the rack gear, wherein the rack cover includes a first blocking mechanism blocking foreign substances from entering the rack cover, and wherein the rack gear includes a second blocking mechanism blocking foreign substances from entering the rack gear.