Rollable Display Housing With Magnetic Position Holding

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Solution Overview

Problem

Rollable electronic devices face damage and malfunction due to external impacts, particularly in the slide-out state, caused by damage or play in meshed gears.

Innovation Solution

Incorporation of magnets to stabilize the slide-in and slide-out states by using attractive forces between magnetic reaction members, along with a movement distance detection sensor and processor-controlled drive motor to maintain the desired position.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If meshed gears are used to enable sliding movement between housings, then the display area can be expanded and contracted, but damage or play occurs in the gears due to external impacts such as drops

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay area expansionVSAvoidgear damage resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a cushioning member positioned between the rack gear and the second housing to absorb external impacts before they reach the meshed gears. This cushioning structure prevents damage and play in the gears during drops or shocks, while maintaining the full sliding functionality for display area expansion and contraction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

2Stability of the object's composition

If meshed gears are used to maintain slide-in and slide-out states, then positional stability is achieved, but play and malfunction occur in the gears under external impacts

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositional stabilityVSAvoidgear malfunction resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The cushioning member is strategically positioned to absorb external impacts before they transmit to the meshed gears. This prevents play and malfunction in the gears while maintaining stable positioning in both slide-in and slide-out states through the combined action of the cushioning member and the magnetic reaction members.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The cushioning member acts as an intermediary element between the rack gear and the second housing, absorbing shock and preventing direct transmission of impact forces to the meshed gears. This intermediary structure protects the precision meshed interface from damage while maintaining positioning stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the second housing is made slidable to enable rollable display, then display flexibility is improved, but damage occurs to internal components during external impacts

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay flexibilityVSAvoidimpact damage to internal components
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The cushioning member is positioned to absorb external impacts before they reach the meshed gears and other internal components. This allows the second housing to remain freely slidable for display flexibility while protecting internal components from impact damage during drops or shocks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The cushioning member serves as a protective intermediary between the movable second housing and the internal drive mechanism. It absorbs impact energy while allowing normal sliding operation, thus enabling display flexibility without compromising internal component safety.

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

Enhances operational reliability by reducing damage and play in the drive mechanism, ensuring stable slide-in and slide-out states even under external impacts.

Implementation Method 1

at least one magnet disposed in the first housing, a first magnetic reaction member disposed in the second housing and configured to be influenced by a magnetic force of the at least one magnet in a slide-in state, and a second magnetic reaction member disposed in the second housing and configured to be influenced by the magnetic force of the at least one magnet in a slide-out state

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic force: Magnetism

Data Source

PatentEP4682673A1Rollable electronic device comprising magnet
Publication Date: 2026.01.21 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP4682673A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4682673A1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP4682673A1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

According to various embodiments, an electronic device comprises: a first housing; a second housing coupled to be slidable from the first housing; a flexible display arranged to be supported by the first housing and the second housing; a driving motor which is arranged in the first housing and comprises a pinion gear; a rack gear which is arranged in the second housing and gear-coupled to the pinion gear; at least one magnet arranged in the first housing; a first magnetic force reaction member which is arranged in the second housing to be affected by the magnetic force of the at least one magnet in a slide-in state; and a second magnetic force reaction member which is arranged in the second housing to be affected by the magnetic force of the at least one magnet in a slide-out state, wherein the second housing can be maintained at the position thereof due to an attractive force between the at least one magnet and the first and second magnetic force reaction members during the slide-in and slide-out states.