Sliding Flexible Display Structure for Flat, Contamination-Safe Extension
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mobile terminals with flexible displays face challenges in maintaining a stable, flat extended state without restricting the bending point, leading to potential damage and exposure to contaminants.
Innovation Solution
A mobile terminal design featuring a sliding frame structure with a driving unit that includes a motor, pinion gear, rack gear, and a gear cover to smoothly extend and retract the flexible display, distributing stress and preventing exposure of the rack gear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the flexible display unit is bent at a specific position to change size, then the display can be resized, but the bending stress is concentrated causing potential damage and reduced durability
Solution Approach 1:
The display unit is divided into multiple flexible display regions that can be independently bent at different positions. This segmentation allows the bending stress to be distributed across multiple regions rather than concentrated at a single point, thereby maintaining display durability while enabling size variation.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile terminal employs a dynamic structure where the flexible display regions can adaptively change their bending positions based on operational requirements. This dynamic flexibility allows the display to resize without being restricted to fixed bending points, reducing stress concentration and improving overall reliability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the mobile terminal has a variable size structure, then the display can be extended, but components may be exposed to the external environment causing contamination
Solution Approach 1:
A flexible cover film is provided that moves together with the extended display components. This cover film acts as a protective barrier, preventing contaminants from the external environment from reaching exposed components during terminal expansion, while still allowing the size variation functionality to operate.
3Ease of operation
If the rack gear is exposed during movement, then the sliding mechanism can function, but contaminants can be introduced into the terminal
Solution Approach 1:
A gear cover is introduced as an intermediary component that selectively covers the rack gear during terminal movement. The gear cover allows the sliding mechanism to function by providing access where needed while preventing contaminant introduction by covering the rack gear when it would otherwise be exposed to the external environment.
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 design allows for a stable, continuous large screen in the extended state, preventing damage and contamination while enhancing usability and portability by distributing stress evenly across the display.
Implementation Method 1
a motor installed in the second frame; a pinion gear configured to rotate by receiving driving force of the motor
Implementation Method 2
a rack gear positioned on the rear face of the first frame and configured to be extended in the first direction to perform linear motion by receiving the driving force of the motor through the pinion gear
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is a mobile terminal capable of switching between a first and second state, expanded in a first direction. The mobile terminal comprising: a body with a first and second frame, which can slide in the first or second direction, a flexible display unit covering one side of the body, with a front and rear surface connected by a side surface, a driving unit for sliding the first frame relative to the second frame using a motor mounted on the second frame. The driving unit includes a motor, a pinion gear, a rack gear and a gear cover covering at least a portion of the rack gear.