Rollable Structure With Sliding Rails For Flexible Screen Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mobile devices with flexible screens face challenges in portability and protection, as they are prone to damage when rolled or subjected to external forces without a proper protection structure, and their expanded screen size compromises convenience.
Innovation Solution
A rollable structure comprising an outer and inner sliding rail system with shafts and blocks, integrated with a coil spring, allows the flexible screen to be rolled, bent, and stored within a housing for compactness, while providing stabilization and positioning to prevent damage during use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of moving object
If a flexible screen is used to expand the display area, then the visual field is improved, but the screen becomes prone to damage when rolled or subjected to external force
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible screen is nested within a housing structure that includes a rollable mechanism. The screen can be rolled into the housing when not in use and extended outward when needed, protecting it from external forces while maintaining a large display area capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The screen mounting structure transitions from a static fixed state to a dynamic rollable state. The screen can be dynamically rolled into the housing for protection or extended for use, adapting its position based on operational requirements to balance protection and display area.
2Area of moving object
If the screen is made larger to provide broader vision, then the visual enjoyment is improved, but the portability and device size are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The display structure is made dynamic and retractable, allowing the screen to be extended when needed for broader vision and retracted into the housing when not in use, maintaining small device volume while providing large display capability on demand.
Solution Approach 2:
The extended screen structure is nested within the housing volume when retracted. The rollable mechanism allows the screen to be stored compactly inside the device body, enabling a large display area without permanently increasing device volume.
3Ease of operation
If the screen is made thin and flexible to improve portability, then the flexibility is improved, but the screen becomes more susceptible to rolling and damage without protection structure
Solution Approach 1:
The thin flexible screen is nested within a protective housing structure with a rollable mechanism. When retracted, the screen is protected inside the housing; when extended, it maintains its flexibility for portability while the housing provides external protection from damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The screen structure dynamically transitions between a protected retracted state and an extended usable state. The rollable mechanism allows the flexible screen to be moved between these states, maintaining both flexibility for portability and protection when stored.
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
Enables a large display area at a minimal volume, ensuring broader vision on small-sized devices while preventing damage from external forces and maintaining portability.
Implementation Method 1
a coil spring, and a rollable structure. The coil spring is disposed in the housing. An outer sliding rail and an inner sliding rail of the rollable structure are selectively accommodated in or stretched out from the housing, and one of the plurality of outer sliding blocks of the outer sliding rail is connected to the coil spring
Data Source
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AI summary
A rollable structure (103) includes an outer and an inner sliding rail (10, 20). The outer sliding rail (10) includes outer sliding blocks (11) and outer shafts (12). Each of the outer shafts (12) is fixed between any two adjacent outer sliding blocks (11). The inner sliding rail (20) is movably clamped in the outer sliding rail (10) and includes inner sliding blocks (21) and inner shafts (22). Each of the inner shafts (22) is fixed between any two adjacent inner sliding blocks (21). When axes (C1) of the outer shafts (12) are aligned with axes (C2) of the inner shafts (22), the outer sliding blocks (11) can rotate with the outer shafts (12) as axes, and the inner sliding blocks (21) can rotate with the inner shafts (22) as axes. After the inner and the outer sliding rail (20, 10) move relative to each other, the axes (C1, C2) of the inner and the outer shafts (22, 12) are misaligned, so that the outer and the inner sliding rail (10, 20) are in a plane.