Dual-Shaft Hinge Mechanism for Gapless 360° Dual-Screen Opening

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Solution Overview

Problem

Dual-screen notebook computers face challenges in achieving a 360° opening and closing mechanism without gaps between screens, as existing rotating shaft structures either limit the opening angle to 200° or result in significant gaps when fully opened.

Innovation Solution

A mechanism featuring parallel first and second rotating shafts with telescopic parts and sliding components that allow the screens to move seamlessly from 0° to 360°, ensuring no gap at 180° and accommodating the rotating shaft within the device at 360°, using rotational connections and sliding parts to manage the opening and closing angles.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a rotating shaft structure is disposed on the rear side of the LCD to achieve dual-screen display, then the opening and closing function is enabled, but the opening and closing angle is limited to 200° and cannot meet 360° requirement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveopening and closing angleVSAvoidrotating shaft structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The rotating shaft structure is divided into two separate shafts (first rotating shaft and second rotating shaft) positioned at different locations. Each shaft independently supports one end of the first LCD and one end of the second LCD, enabling 360° rotation while avoiding interference with the display screens.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The rotating shafts are repositioned from the rear side of the LCD to the side edges of the LCDs. This spatial reconfiguration allows the shafts to rotate perpendicular to the display plane without obstructing the screens, achieving both 360° opening and full-screen display.

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

2Adaptability or versatility

If the rotating shaft is positioned to enable 360° opening and closing, then the opening angle requirement is met, but a relatively large gap appears between two LCDs when disposed side by side

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveopening and closing angleVSAvoidgap between LCDs
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The two rotating shafts are positioned asymmetrically at opposite sides of the LCD assembly rather than symmetrically at the center. This asymmetric positioning allows the LCDs to be pushed together at the display edges while the shafts rotate at the periphery, eliminating gaps between screens during 360° operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

3Device complexity

If a single rotating shaft structure is used to connect two LCDs, then the structure is simple, but the rotating shaft interferes with the display screen when opened to 360°

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverotating shaft structureVSAvoidinterference to display screen
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The rotating shaft function is extracted from the rear side of the LCD and relocated to the side edges. By separating the rotation mechanism from the display area, the shafts can perform their rotational function without interfering with the display screens during 360° opening and closing operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP3757409B1Opening and closing mechanism and electronic device
Publication Date: 2024.11.27 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3757409B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3757409B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3757409B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

Embodiments of this application provide an opening and closing mechanism and an electronic device. The opening and closing mechanism includes: a first rotating shaft and a second rotating shaft that are disposed in parallel, a first telescopic part disposed on the first rotating shaft and a second telescopic part disposed on the second rotating shaft, and the first rotating shaft and the second rotating shaft are rotationally connected. The first telescopic part includes a first connection part connected to the first rotating shaft and a first body fastening part that may slide along the first connection part, and the first body fastening part is configured to fasten a first body of the electronic device. The second telescopic part includes a second connection part connected to the second rotating shaft and a second body fastening part that may slide along the second connection part, and the second body fastening part is configured to fasten a second body of the electronic device. According to the embodiments of this application, a notebook computer can be rotated at 360°, and it is ensured that when an opening and closing angle of the notebook computer is 180°, there is no gap or a small gap.