Dual-Damping Hinge Mechanism for Narrow Stable Stands
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hinge mechanisms in electronic devices with built-in stands face a challenge in providing a large damping force while maintaining a small stand width, leading to difficulties in achieving both stability and miniaturization.
Innovation Solution
A hinge mechanism with two damping structures spaced apart and connected through a connecting piece, allowing the stand to rotate about perpendicular axes, superimposing damping forces to provide stability while reducing the stand's width.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If the damping structure is made long to provide sufficient damping force, then the damping force increases and support stability improves, but the width of the stand increases resulting in a large overall size
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the arrangement direction of the damping structure from the width direction (axis direction) to the thickness direction of the stand. By arranging the damping structure in the thickness direction rather than the width direction, the stand width is reduced while the damping force is maintained through the extended damping element in the thickness direction. This dimensional reconfiguration resolves the contradiction between needing sufficient damping force and maintaining a compact stand width.
2Force
If multiple pairs of rotating shafts and sleeves are disposed to increase damping force, then the damping force increases, but the quantity of components increases leading to larger stand width
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple damping functions into a single integrated damping structure. Instead of using multiple separate pairs of rotating shafts and sleeves, the invention employs one rotating shaft with multiple damping elements (first damping element and second damping element) attached to it. These damping elements interact with corresponding damping structures to provide combined damping force, effectively merging the function of multiple damping pairs into one unified structure, thereby reducing component quantity while maintaining sufficient damping force.
3Length of stationary object
If the stand width is reduced for miniaturization design, then the overall size decreases and portability improves, but the damping force becomes insufficient compromising support stability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent relocates the damping structure from the width direction to the thickness direction of the stand. The damping element is arranged along the thickness direction and extends beyond the stand surface, allowing the damping force to be generated in a direction perpendicular to the stand width. This enables the stand width to be reduced for miniaturization while the damping force remains sufficient because the damping element operates in the thickness direction, thus maintaining support stability despite the reduced width.
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 mechanism achieves a balance between stability and miniaturization by superimposing damping forces, enabling a small stand width without compromising support stability and facilitating a thin, lightweight design.
Implementation Method 1
When the rotating shaft and the sleeve rotate relative to each other, a damping force is generated due to mutual friction
Data Source
AI summary
A hinge mechanism includes a first damping structure, a second damping structure, and a connecting piece. The first damping structure is mounted on a first component. The first damping structure and the second damping structure are spaced apart in a first direction and are connected through the connecting piece. The first damping structure rotates about a first axis relative to a second component under driving of the first component, and the second damping structure is driven by the connecting piece to rotate about a second axis relative to the second component. Both the first axis and the second axis extend in a second direction, and the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction.