Biaxial Hinge Side-Face Assembly for Thin High-Torque Mobile Terminals

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing biaxial hinge mechanisms in portable electronic products, such as notebook computers, face challenges in reducing thickness while maintaining performance due to their complex structure.

Innovation Solution

A biaxial hinge mechanism with a synchronization mechanism using gears and torsion members, where the side faces and connection end faces are optimized to be planes or concave surfaces, allowing for high space utilization and strong connections, enabling reduced thickness and high rotating torque.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Force

If the hinge structure is made complicated to ensure original performance, then the rotating torque and connection strength are improved, but the thickness of the hinge increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverotating torqueVSAvoidhinge thickness
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from traditional thickness-direction connections to side-face connections, utilizing the lateral dimension of the hinge. By connecting supports to the side faces rather than through the thickness direction, the design achieves high connection strength and rotating torque without increasing hinge thickness, effectively resolving the contradiction between force output and dimensional constraints.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The synchronization mechanism employs nested gears where the third gear is positioned within the fourth gear, and both are integrated into the existing first and second shafts. This nested arrangement provides synchronization functionality without adding external dimensional bulk, maintaining compact thickness while ensuring coordinated rotation of dual shafts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Length of stationary object

If the hinge structure is simplified to reduce thickness, then the thickness is reduced, but the connection strength and rotating torque decrease

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehinge thicknessVSAvoidconnection strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of stationary objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent achieves high connection strength without increasing thickness by utilizing side-face connection surfaces. The first and second supports connect to the side faces of the first and second shafts respectively, distributing connection forces laterally rather than through the thickness dimension, thereby maintaining strength while reducing overall hinge thickness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Manufacturing precision

If the hinge structure is made complicated to ensure original performance, then the synchronization and positioning accuracy are improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidhinge structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The synchronization mechanism uses nested gears (third gear within fourth gear) that are integrated into the existing shaft structure. This nested design provides precise synchronization and positioning through gear meshing while minimizing additional structural complexity, as the gears are incorporated within the existing dimensional envelope rather than adding external components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The third and fourth gears act as intermediary elements that transmit and synchronize rotation between the first and second shafts. These gear intermediaries provide precise positioning and synchronization control through their meshing engagement, achieving accurate coordinated motion without requiring complex control mechanisms or additional actuation systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Length of stationary object

If the hinge size is reduced to decrease thickness, then the thickness is reduced, but the torque output decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehinge thicknessVSAvoidrotating torque
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of stationary objectVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The patent resolves the torque-thickness contradiction by shifting the torque generation and transmission to the lateral dimension. The side-face connections and lateral gear arrangements enable torque transmission perpendicular to the thickness direction, allowing compact thickness while maintaining high torque output through optimized force distribution in the lateral plane.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 solution effectively reduces the thickness of the hinge while maintaining strength and achieving a high rotating torque, facilitating efficient installation and operation in mobile terminals.

Implementation Method 1

The biaxial hinge mechanism is further provided with a torsion member

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

a first reed pipe and a second reed pipe are respectively provided on the upper and lower portions of the torsion member, the first reed pipe and the second reed pipe are respectively sleeved on the first shaft and the second shaft, and frictionally engaged with the first shaft and the second shaft respectively

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP3617536B1Biaxial hinge mechanism used on mobile terminal and mobile terminal
Publication Date: 2023.12.20 HANGZHOU AMPHENOL PHOENIX TELECOM PARTS
  • EP3617536B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3617536B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3617536B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Disclosed is a biaxial hinge mechanism used on a mobile terminal, comprising a first shaft and a second shaft parallel to each other, and a first support and a second support, wherein the first and second supports are respectively connected to the connection ends of the first and second shafts; the first and second supports are provided with connection end faces facing side faces of the connection ends; riveting columns formed in an integrated manner are provided on the connection end faces; connection through holes are provided on the connection ends; and the riveting columns are connected to the connection through holes. The spaces of the side faces of the hinge, rather than the spaces in the thickness direction of the hinge, are fully used to connect the supports, providing a high space utilization rate and aiding in greatly reducing the thickness of the hinge, and the used connection structure facilitates installation of the supports on the side faces of the hinge, providing a high connection strength. A relatively large rotating torque can be realized by the relatively small size, for example, the torque can reach over 3.5 kg.cm with the overall outer diameter within 3.3 mm.