Dual Axis Hinge for Portable Terminal Widescreen Orientation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional portable terminals have inconvenient display units that are rectangular and lengthwise, making it difficult for users to effectively view multimedia content such as movies, games, or television, due to the narrow and small visible picture.
Innovation Solution
A dual axis hinge apparatus that connects two housings of a portable terminal, allowing them to rotate relative to each other, enabling the display unit to be used like a wide-screen and positioned laterally side by side for enhanced multimedia experiences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a conventional single-axis hinge is used to connect housings, then the terminal can be opened and closed, but the display unit remains in a narrow lengthwise orientation that is unsuitable for multimedia viewing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a second hinge axis perpendicular to the first hinge axis, transforming the single-degree-of-freedom rotation into a two-degree-of-freedom system. This dimensional change enables the display unit to rotate not only for opening/closing but also to achieve a 90-degree lateral rotation for widescreen orientation, directly resolving the display orientation limitation while maintaining manageable structural complexity through modular hinge components
2Area of moving object
If the display unit is positioned lengthwise in conventional terminals, then the terminal structure is simple, but the visible picture area is small and narrow making multimedia viewing inconvenient
Solution Approach 1:
By adding the second hinge axis that enables 90-degree lateral rotation, the patent transforms the display orientation from a fixed lengthwise arrangement to an adjustable configuration that can achieve widescreen horizontal orientation. This dimensional change maximizes the effective use of the display area for multimedia content, making the visible picture area suitable for movies, games, and television viewing
3Ease of operation
If a dual axis hinge apparatus is implemented to enable widescreen display, then multimedia services become easier to use, but the hinge structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the hinge system into separate first and second hinge assemblies, each responsible for a specific rotational degree of freedom. The first hinge assembly handles the opening/closing rotation around the first hinge axis, while the second hinge assembly handles the lateral rotation around the second hinge axis. This segmentation allows each component to be relatively simple while achieving the combined widescreen capability, making the complexity manageable through modular design
Data Source
AI summary
A dual hinge apparatus for a portable terminal provides a pair of hinge axes perpendicular to each other and connects first and second housings that form the portable terminal to each other such that they can rotate relative to the first and second hinge axes, respectively. The hinge apparatus includes a fixed housing, a rotating housing coupled opposite to the fixed housing to rotate relative to the second hinge axis, and a hinge housing coupled to a side surface of the rotating housing to provide the first hinge axis. Such a hinge apparatus couples the pair of housings to each other such that they can be positioned laterally side by side with each other. Thus, a display unit can lie transversely and lengthwise, which is convenient for using multimedia services. Using the disclosed hinge apparatus, it is easy to construct various types of information terminals.