Single-Panel Foldable Display for Folded and Unfolded Viewing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional foldable electronic devices face a trade-off between portability and screen size, offering either small screens with good portability or large screens with decreased mobility, as they require separate display panels for folded and unfolded states.
Innovation Solution
A foldable electronic device with a single display panel comprising a cover area, a main area, and a round-edge area, connected through a hinge, allowing independent control by a system-on-chip for different display modes in folded and unfolded states, enabling both portability and a large screen experience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If separate display panels are used for folded and unfolded states, then portability and screen size can be optimized independently, but device complexity and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the cover display panel and main display panel into a single integrated display panel. This unified panel includes a cover area that displays information in folded state and a main area that displays information in unfolded state, eliminating the need for separate display panels while maintaining display adaptability across different device states
Solution Approach 2:
The single display panel is designed to serve multiple functions: it acts as both the cover display (showing notifications, time, or other information) and the main display (showing primary content) depending on the device's folded or unfolded state. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by allowing one component to replace what would traditionally require two separate components
2Device complexity
If a single display panel is used for both folded and unfolded states, then device complexity and manufacturing costs decrease, but the ability to provide optimized display for each state is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The single display panel is segmented into distinct functional areas: a cover area for displaying information in folded state and a main area for displaying information in unfolded state. This segmentation allows the unified panel to provide state-optimized display content, maintaining adaptability while simplifying the overall display system architecture
Solution Approach 2:
The display system dynamically adjusts which area of the single display panel is active based on the device's state. The system can switch between displaying content on the cover area (folded state), main area (unfolded state), or both simultaneously (partial folded state), providing adaptability through dynamic configuration rather than through multiple physical displays
3Reliability
If separate display panels are used, then optimal display performance for each state is achieved, but ease of manufacture and assembly are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the cover display and main display into a single manufactured component. This integration simplifies the manufacturing process by eliminating the need to produce, test, and assemble two separate display panels, while maintaining the display performance needed for both folded and unfolded states through the unified panel's multiple display areas
Data Source
AI summary
A foldable electronic device includes a first sub-device, a second sub-device, a first hinge connected with the first and second sub-devices, and a single display panel coupled to the first and second sub-devices; where the single display panel includes a main area formed on inner surfaces of the first and second sub-devices, a cover area formed on a first outer surface of the first sub-device, and a round-edge area placed on a first side surface of the first sub-device, and configured to connect the main area and the cover area; where, in a folded state of the foldable electronic device, first information is displayed through the cover area or the round-edge area; and, in an unfolded state of the foldable electronic device, second information is displayed through the main area or the round-edge area.