Shell Damping Lock Catches for Terminal Impact Protection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Glass touch screens in large-screen terminal devices are prone to breaking under impact, leading to unnecessary damage and loss, with existing protective structures being complex or not applicable to whole machine manufacturing.

Innovation Solution

A shell structure with lock catch structures, damping plates, and compression parts made of specific materials, forming a clamping and damping system that absorbs impact through a combination of polycarbonate, silica gel, and Thermoplastic Polyurethanes, providing a rigid connection and deformation spaces to mitigate pressure on the touch screen.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If glass touch screen is used in large-screen terminal device, then display quality and user interface are improved, but the touch screen is easily broken under impact

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplay qualityVSAvoidtouch screen durability

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies beforehand cushioning by introducing a damping plate between the glass touch screen and the shell structure. The damping plate is positioned to absorb impact energy before it reaches the glass screen, preventing breakage. The damping plate material and structure are designed to provide cushioning protection in advance, addressing the vulnerability of glass screens under impact while maintaining display quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

2Strength

If secondary hardening of glass material is applied, then touch screen strength is improved, but the manufacturing process becomes complicated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveglass material strengthVSAvoidmanufacturing process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the intermediary principle by introducing a damping plate as a mediator between the shell structure and the glass touch screen. Instead of modifying the glass material itself through complex secondary hardening processes, the damping plate serves as an intermediate protective layer that absorbs impact energy. This approach protects the glass screen without complicating the manufacturing process, as the damping plate can be integrated into the existing shell assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If double-layer glass scheme is used, then protection against impact is improved, but it is very difficult to fabricate a display module

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimpact protectionVSAvoiddisplay module fabrication

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the principle of using a damping plate as a sacrificial protective element. The damping plate is designed to be a separate, easily manufacturable component that can be integrated into the shell structure. Rather than attempting to fabricate complex double-layer glass modules, the damping plate provides impact protection as a simpler, more manufacturable alternative that can be assembled into the display module without significant difficulty.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

4Reliability

If phone case and protection accessories are used, then touch screen protection is improved, but these accessories are not applicable to whole machine manufacturer

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetouch screen protectionVSAvoidmanufacturing applicability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the merging principle by integrating the damping plate directly into the shell structure of the terminal device. Instead of using separate phone cases and protection accessories, the damping plate is combined with the shell to form an integrated protective structure. This integration makes the protection feature applicable to whole machine manufacturing, as the damping plate can be incorporated into the shell assembly process rather than requiring separate accessory applications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

Effectively dampens external impacts, preventing touch screen damage, simplifies the manufacturing process, reduces costs, and enhances the reliability and user experience of terminal devices while adding economic value.

Implementation Method 1

A damping plate and a compression part are sequentially arranged in a direction facing the first shell in the first through hole, and the first through hole is connected with the damping plate in a clamping way

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDamping: Damping

Implementation Method 2

The damping plate compresses the compression part, to make the compression part deformed

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS10651877B2Shell structure with damping lock catches for terminals

Publication Date: 2020.05.12 ZTE CORP

AI summary

Provided are a shell structure and a terminal device. The shell structure includes a first shell; herein, multiple lock catch structures are installed on an inner surface of the first shell and a first through hole is formed by the lock catch structure. A damping plate and a compression part are sequentially arranged in a direction facing the first shell in the first through hole, and the first through hole is connected with the damping plate in a clamping way.