Unitary Flexible Display Translator for Compact Multi-Mode Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Contemporary mobile devices face a trade-off between compactness for portability and expansive screen size, necessitating users to choose between devices for different usage scenarios.
Innovation Solution
An electronic device with a unitary flexible display and a translator mechanism that allows the display's end portions to transition between abutting and extending from the device housing, enabling configurations such as clamshell, slab, and tablet modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a large screen size is used to provide expansive visual interface, then the display area is improved, but the device size and portability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into two separate housings (first device housing and second device housing) that can pivot relative to each other, with the flexible display spanning across both housings. This segmentation allows the display to be extended when needed while maintaining a compact form when folded, resolving the contradiction between large display area and compact device volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The device incorporates dynamic elements including a hinge mechanism that allows the housings to pivot between closed and open positions, and a translator that enables the flexible display to extend and retract. These dynamic mechanisms allow the device to transition between compact and expanded states, providing both portability and expansive display area as needed.
2Volume of moving object
If a compact device form factor is used to improve portability, then the device size is reduced, but the display area is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible display can be retracted into the device housings, with the translator mechanism allowing the display to be nested within the boundaries of the compact device form factor. When not in use, the display portions are stored within the housings, maintaining a small device volume while preserving the capability to expand to a large display area when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The device utilizes the third dimension by allowing the flexible display to extend outward from the device housings in addition to the typical planar expansion. This vertical/depth dimension provides additional display area without increasing the device's footprint, resolving the contradiction between compact form factor and large display area.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a single device is designed to fulfill multiple usage scenarios, then the versatility is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device is designed with universal functionality to serve multiple purposes: it can operate as a compact phone when the housings are closed, as a tablet when the housings are open and the display is extended, and as a laptop when positioned on a surface. The hinge and translator mechanisms enable this multi-functionality without requiring separate devices, achieving versatility while managing complexity through integrated design.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device includes a device housing, a unitary flexible display coupled to the device housing and having at least two end portions extending distally from a base portion, and a translator coupled to the unitary flexible display. The translator is operable to selectively move the at least two end portions between a first position where the at least two end portions abut the device housing and a second position where the at least two end portions extend distally from the device housing. A first device housing can also be pivotable relative to a second device housing between an axially displaced open position and closed position. The combination of extendable display and pivoting action allows the electronic device to be configured in any of a clamshell configuration, a slab configuration, or a tablet configuration.