Sliding Display Assembly for Foldable Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional foldable electronic devices face issues with display and support body deformation when folded, as they stretch on one side and compress on the other, leading to potential wrinkling or permanent deformation.
Innovation Solution
A foldable assembly featuring a pivot hinge and a linear actuator that allows the display and support body to slide relative to each other, preventing stretching or compressing, and utilizing tapered hinge blades and sliding rails to maintain stability and minimize space during folding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the display and support body are folded together to minimize device dimensions, then the outer dimensions of the device are reduced, but the display and support body stretch and compress causing deformation and wrinkling
Solution Approach 1:
The display assembly is divided into separate segments (first display portion and second display portion) that can move independently relative to each other. This segmentation allows each portion to maintain its shape while the device folds, preventing the continuous stretching and compressing that causes deformation in conventional foldable displays.
Solution Approach 2:
A neutral axis structure is introduced as an intermediary element between the display portions and the support body. This neutral axis serves as a reference that remains unchanged during folding, allowing the display portions to slide relative to it rather than stretching, thus preventing deformation while enabling compact folding.
2Area of moving object
If the display is made larger to provide more screen area, then the display area is increased, but the device outer dimensions increase when unfolded
Solution Approach 1:
The display assembly employs dynamic movement mechanisms where the first and second display portions can slide relative to the support body along the neutral axis. This dynamic capability allows the display to achieve a large unfolded area while the support body maintains a compact folded dimension, as the display portions extend beyond the support body when unfolded and retract when folded.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes movement along a third dimension (perpendicular to the folding axis) by allowing the display portions to slide parallel to the neutral axis. This dimensional change enables the display area to be larger than the support body footprint when unfolded, while maintaining compact dimensions when folded, effectively decoupling display area from device footprint.
Data Source
Figure 1~3b
Figure 4a~4b
Figure 5a~5c
AI summary
A foldable assembly (1) for an electronic device (17), the foldable assembly (1) comprising a foldable first surface layer (2a) superimposed onto a foldable support layer (3). The support layer (3) comprises a first body (4), a second body (5), and a pivot hinge (6), the pivot hinge (6) interconnecting the first body (4) and the second body (5). The first body (4) and the second body (5) are pivotable relative each other around an assembly rotation axis (A1) of the pivot hinge (6) such that the foldable assembly (1) is moveable between an unfolded position (Pl) and at least one folded end position (P2a, P2b). The first body (4) and the second body (5) are aligned in a common plane when the foldable assembly (1) is in the unfolded position (P1), and the first body (4) is superimposed onto the second body (5) when the foldable assembly (1) is in the folded end position (P2a, P2b). The support layer (3) further comprises at least one linear actuator (7), a first end (7a) of the linear actuator (7) being connected to the pivot hinge (6) and a second, opposite end (7b) of the linear actuator (7) being connected to one of the first surface layer (2 a) and the second body (5). An actuator axis (A2) extends between the first (7a) and second (7b) ends and perpendicular to the assembly rotation axis (Al). Pivoting of the first body (4) and/or the second body (5) around the assembly rotation axis (A1) actuates the linear actuator (7) such that the linear actuator (7) urges one of the first surface layer (2 a) and the second body (5) to move, in relation to the pivot hinge (6), along the actuator axis (A2). This allows surface layer of an electronic device to slide, as the electronic device is folded, hence preventing the surface layer from becoming wrinkled and/or permanently deformed.