Transparent Window Thickness Zoning for Foldable Display Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic devices face challenges in preventing the ingress of foreign substances while accommodating flexible displays that change size, particularly when transitioning between retracted and extended positions.
Innovation Solution
A transparent window with varying thicknesses and a blocking structure that includes a sealing member to limit foreign substance ingress, featuring a flexible display connected to housing parts that move between retracted and extended positions, and a transparent resin layer with refractive index matching the glass.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a transparent window with uniform thickness is used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but it cannot effectively prevent foreign substance ingress when the flexible display moves between retracted and extended positions
Solution Approach 1:
The transparent window employs varying thickness across different regions: a first thickness in a first region and a second thickness greater than the first thickness in a second region. This local quality variation allows the window to accommodate the movement of the flexible display between retracted and extended positions while maintaining effective sealing and preventing foreign substance ingress throughout the full range of motion.
2Reliability
If the transparent window thickness is increased to prevent foreign substance ingress, then sealing effectiveness improves, but the device becomes more complex and harder to manufacture
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than uniformly increasing the thickness of the entire transparent window, the invention applies increased thickness only in specific regions where sealing is most critical. The transparent window has a first thickness in a first region and a second thickness greater than the first thickness in a second region, optimizing sealing effectiveness while minimizing manufacturing complexity.
3Reliability
If a blocking structure is added to prevent foreign substance ingress, then reliability improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The blocking structure is integrated with the transparent window rather than being a separate component. The transparent window itself forms the blocking structure through its varying thickness design, merging the protective function with the existing transparent window component and avoiding additional structural complexity.
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
Effectively prevents foreign substance ingress while allowing flexible display movement, maintaining functionality and user experience.
Implementation Method 1
a transparent resin layer between the flexible display and at least a portion of the glass, wherein a refractive index of the transparent resin layer is equal to a refractive index of the glass
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an electronic device including a housing including a first housing part and a second housing part configured to move with respect to the first housing part between a retracted position and an extended position, a flexible display connected to the first housing part and the second housing part such that a size of a portion of the flexible display visible from a front side of the housing is changed based on the second housing part moving between the retracted position and the extended position, a transparent window on an outer surface of the flexible display, and a blocking structure between the first housing part and the flexible display, the blocking structure being configured to limit an inflow of foreign substances from an outside of the electronic device, wherein a portion of the flexible display is configured to move from a front side of the housing to an interior of the housing with the transparent window based on the second housing part moving from the extended position to the retracted position, and wherein a first thickness of a first portion of the transparent window is less than a second thickness of a second portion of the transparent window.