Dual-Display Hinge Structure for Seamless Folding Screens
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic devices with two displays hinged together face issues of gaps between displays leading to incomplete seamless images and potential user injury from getting fingers stuck.
Innovation Solution
The device features first and second housings with curved touchscreen displays and hinge structures allowing rotation, with a flexible circuit board connecting them, ensuring continuous screen output and preventing finger interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If physical space is provided between the two displays to enable pivoting, then the displays can rotate relative to each other, but user's body parts may get stuck in the space and cause injury
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful gap between displays is eliminated by extracting the traditional hinge mechanism that required physical space. The displays are positioned to extend substantially to the edges of their respective housings, removing the dangerous void where fingers could get trapped while maintaining rotation capability through the edge-aligned hinge connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The side surfaces of the displays adjacent to the hinge structure are formed with curved surfaces rather than flat surfaces. This curvature design prevents sharp edges and corners that could trap body parts, while the curved geometry still allows the necessary rotational movement between displays.
2Manufacturing precision
If the two displays are positioned close together to eliminate gaps, then seamless image display is achieved, but the hinge structure cannot accommodate the rotation movement
Solution Approach 1:
Curved side surfaces are implemented on the displays adjacent to the hinge, allowing the displays to be positioned extremely close together for seamless image display while the curved geometry accommodates the rotational stress and movement of the hinge mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge structure is designed to connect the displays at their edges with minimal gap, changing the traditional hinge design that required larger spacing. This parameter change in the hinge connection geometry enables both seamless display alignment and rotation capability.
3Manufacturing precision
If the displays extend to the edges of the housings to eliminate gaps, then seamless display is achieved, but the hinge structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge structure is divided into multiple functional segments: a first hinge connecting the first display to the second housing, and a second hinge connecting the second display to the first housing. This segmentation allows each hinge to be optimized for its specific connection while collectively achieving the seamless display goal.
Solution Approach 2:
The curved side surfaces of the displays simplify the hinge design by eliminating the need for complex mounting structures at sharp corners. The curved geometry provides natural transition zones that reduce structural complexity while maintaining edge-to-edge display continuity.
Data Source
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AI summary
An electronic device according to various examples of the present invention comprises: a first housing including a first surface and a second surface facing opposite the first surface, wherein the first surface includes a first touch screen display, and the first housing includes a first side part and a second side part at a first edge when viewed from above the first surface; a second housing including a third surface and a fourth surface facing opposite the third surface, wherein the third surface includes a second touch screen display, and the second housing includes a third side part and a fourth side part at a second edge extending adjacently from the first edge when viewed from above the third surface; a first hinge structure connected to the first side part and the third side part; a second hinge structure connected to the second side part and the fourth side part; at least one processor positioned in the first housing and/or the second housing, and electrically connected to the first touch screen display and/or the second touch screen display through the first hinge structure and/or the second hinge structure; and a memory positioned in the first housing and/or the second housing and electrically connected to the processor, wherein the first hinge structure and the second hinge structure allow the first housing and the second housing to rotate relative to each other between a first state and a second state, and the first surface can face the third surface in the first state, and the second surface can face the fourth surface in the second state. The electronic device can be variously implemented according to examples.