Rollable Display Elastic Sealing Gap

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional rollable display devices suffer from gaps between the soft display panel and the housing when the panel is retracted and extended, allowing foreign substances to enter and complicating maintenance due to grease transfer.

Innovation Solution

A rollable display device with an elastic portion, including a rubber portion and a wing portion, is integrated into the housing to cover the opening, minimizing exposure and preventing foreign substances from entering.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the opening is defined wider than the soft display panel passage area to protect the panel, then the panel is protected from damage, but a gap is formed between the panel and housing allowing foreign substances to enter

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepanel protectionVSAvoidforeign substance entry
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

An elastic portion is introduced as an intermediary element between the housing opening and the soft display panel. This elastic portion dynamically adjusts to fill the gap formed when the panel is retracted, preventing foreign substances from entering while allowing the panel to pass through the opening during extension and retraction operations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The elastic portion is designed to be dynamically deformable, changing its shape and position according to the panel's movement state. When the panel is extended, the elastic portion retracts; when the panel is retracted, the elastic portion expands to cover the opening, providing adaptive protection without compromising panel operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Object-affected harmful factors

If brush members are positioned adjacent to the opening to block foreign substances, then foreign substance entry is reduced, but grease from the brush transfers to other portions of the device complicating maintenance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveforeign substance blockingVSAvoidmaintenance complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The elastic portion functions as a flexible sealing element that replaces the rigid brush members. This flexible membrane blocks foreign substances from entering through the opening while preventing grease transfer to other device portions, thereby maintaining protection effectiveness while simplifying maintenance requirements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The elastic portion is designed as a simple, replaceable component that can be easily removed and replaced during maintenance. This design reduces maintenance complexity compared to brush members that transfer grease throughout the device, allowing quick replacement without complex disassembly or cleaning procedures

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

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 effectively blocks external foreign substances by minimizing the exposure of the interior housing when the soft display panel is retracted and extended, while also preventing the brush from entering the actuating member.

Implementation Method 1

an elastic portion having one end coupled to a perimeter of the opening and protruding to cover at least a portion of the opening

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP4027322B1Rollable display device
Publication Date: 2025.05.07 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP4027322B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4027322B1 patent drawingFigure 2(a)~2(b)
  • EP4027322B1 patent drawingFigure 3(a)~3(b)

AI summary

A rollable display device includes: a soft display panel; a main roller for winding or unwinding the soft display panel; an actuator coupled to the soft display panel to ascend and descend the soft display panel; a housing having the main roller mounted therein, wherein an opening extending in a first direction is defined in a top of the housing to retract and extend the soft display panel therethrough; and an elastic portion having one end coupled to a perimeter of the opening and protruding to cover at least a portion of the opening, wherein the elastic portion includes a rubber portion having a predetermined length along the first direction. The rollable display device may minimize exposure of an interior of the housing to prevent foreign substances from entering.