Strain Gauge Layer for Display Chassis Protection

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Solution Overview

Problem

The challenge is to create a lightweight and thin mobile device chassis that provides adequate protection against drops without increasing cost or diminishing user experience, as thinner and lighter designs make devices more prone to failure.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a strain-gauge layer within the display device's chassis to measure deformation and forces, allowing for the design of a lighter and less expensive device while maintaining structural support and protection, enabling rapid prototyping and testing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Weight of moving object

If the chassis is made thinner and lighter, then user experience is improved, but the display becomes more prone to breaking when dropped

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechassis weightVSAvoiddisplay protection

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies beforehand cushioning by integrating a strain-gauge layer that detects and measures strain forces on the display before catastrophic failure occurs. This monitoring system enables preventive measures to be taken, such as alerting users to potential damage or adjusting device behavior to avoid further stress on compromised components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback by using the strain-gauge layer to continuously monitor forces applied to the display and providing real-time data to the device's processing system. This feedback loop allows the device to respond to detected strain, such as by notifying users of potential damage, preventing further stress, or adjusting operational parameters to protect the display.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Length of moving object

If the chassis is made thinner and lighter, then device portability is improved, but structural support and protection are diminished

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechassis thicknessVSAvoidstructural support

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of moving objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies mechanics substitution by replacing reliance on purely mechanical structural reinforcement with an integrated sensing and monitoring system. The strain-gauge layer provides electronic detection of structural stress, allowing thinner chassis designs to maintain adequate protection through intelligent monitoring rather than solely through increased material strength.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements parameter changes by using the strain-gauge layer to detect and measure mechanical strain parameters on the display. By monitoring these physical parameters in real-time, the system can identify when structural limits are approaching, enabling protective actions even though the chassis itself remains thin and lightweight.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If traditional iterative design and testing is used, then device reliability is improved, but development time and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice reliabilityVSAvoiddevelopment time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by integrating the strain-gauge layer into the design phase, allowing developers to predict and analyze potential failure points before finalizing the product. This upfront incorporation of monitoring capability enables virtual testing and validation, reducing the need for extensive physical prototyping and iterative testing cycles.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements copying by using the strain-gauge data to create a digital model or representation of the physical stresses experienced by the display. This digital twin or virtual copy allows for extensive testing and analysis without requiring multiple physical prototypes, significantly reducing development time while maintaining reliability validation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

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

This approach enables the creation of more reliable, lighter, and cost-effective mobile devices with improved assembly and disassembly efficiency, balancing weight, thickness, and protection while reducing the likelihood of failure during use.

Implementation Method 1

A strain-gauge layer integrated into a display device measures forces on the display

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectStrain gauge measurement: Piezoresistive Effect

Data Source

PatentUS10247970B2Measuring strain on display device

Publication Date: 2019.04.02 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

A display includes an integrated strain-gauge layer in or on the display for measuring the strain at a plurality of locations on the display. The display is deformable and secured to a display device by a first chassis. A method includes measuring, over a period of time, strain of the display of a first device at the plurality of locations and recording the strain measurements in a memory of the display device. Strain measurements associated with a failure of the display may be identified. The method may include simulating a dynamic system including a model of a second device. The model of the second device includes a model of a second chassis different than the first chassis and a model of the display associated with the failure. Simulating the dynamic system may include simulating deformation of the model of the display based on the identified strain measurements.