Rotating Protective Cover for Foldable Displays

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Foldable electronic devices with flexible displays are vulnerable to scratches and impacts due to their exposed surfaces, necessitating a protective solution that ensures coverage and security without compromising portability.

Innovation Solution

A protection cover system comprising a cover part and a coupling part, where the coupling part is rotatably connected and detachably coupled to the electronic device using magnets and suction plates, allowing for selective coverage of both the front and rear surfaces, including 360-degree rotatable displays.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a protection cover is provided for foldable electronic devices with flexible displays, then the device is protected against breakage or damage, but the device complexity increases due to additional protective components and attachment mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection against breakage or damageVSAvoidcover structure with coupling part

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The protection cover is divided into a cover part and a separate coupling part that can be detachably coupled to the electronic device. This segmentation allows the protective function to be added without permanently increasing device complexity, as the coupling part can be removed when not needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The coupling part is rotatably connected to the cover part, allowing it to be nested within or integrated with the cover structure. This nesting approach minimizes the overall space required for the protective components while maintaining their individual functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Weight of moving object

If the protection cover is detachably coupled to the electronic device, then portability is maintained, but the reliability of attachment may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveportabilityVSAvoidattachment security

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The coupling part includes a magnet that preliminarily attracts and holds the cover to the electronic device before final attachment. This preliminary magnetic action ensures secure attachment while allowing easy detachment when needed, balancing portability with reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If the cover part can rotate to cover different surfaces, then versatility is improved for protecting multiple display surfaces, but the device complexity increases due to rotational mechanism

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoverage of multiple surfacesVSAvoidrotational mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The rotational mechanism is merged with the coupling part structure itself, rather than being a separate complex mechanism. The coupling part serves dual functions: attachment to the device and rotation to position the cover over different surfaces, thereby reducing overall complexity while maintaining versatility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The cover part is designed to be dynamically adjustable through rotation, allowing it to adapt to different display orientations and configurations. This dynamic capability enables a single cover design to protect multiple surfaces without requiring multiple fixed-position covers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Force

If a magnet is used in the coupling part for secure attachment, then attachment force is improved, but the device complexity increases due to magnetic components

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment forceVSAvoidmagnetic components in coupling part

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The magnet in the coupling part serves multiple functions: providing attachment force to secure the cover to the electronic device, enabling preliminary holding through magnetic attraction, and potentially assisting in the rotational movement. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby minimizing complexity while maximizing attachment force.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 protection cover effectively safeguards the electronic device's surfaces by rotating to cover either the front or rear surfaces, providing secure attachment and protection while maintaining portability and usability.

Implementation Method 1

the coupling part includes a magnet configured to produce an attraction force with a magnetic member of the electronic device

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetic attraction: Magnetism

Data Source

PatentUS11387513B2Protective cover

Publication Date: 2022.07.12 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

According to various embodiments of the present invention, a protective cover for protecting an electronic device comprises: a cover part; and a coupling part extending from the cover part, rotatably connected to the cover part, and detachably coupled to a part of the electronic device, wherein the coupling part rotates the cover part while being coupled to a part of the electronic device, so as to enable the cover part to cover at least one of a first and a second surface of the electronic device. In addition, various embodiments are possible.