Dual-Shaft Hinge With Torque Element For 360-Degree Rotation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional single-shaft hinges in portable electronic devices, such as notebook computers, limit the rotational angle between the screen upper cover and the main body to less than 360 degrees, restricting the device's flexibility and usability.
Innovation Solution
A dual-shaft hinge design incorporating a first rotating shaft, a second rotating shaft, a fixing assembly, a torque element, and carrier plates, allowing for a rotational angle of 0 to 360 degrees by utilizing a torque element with positioning protruding portions and a fixing assembly to minimize torque interference between the shafts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single-shaft hinge is used, then the structure is simple, but the rotational angle is limited to less than 360 degrees
Solution Approach 1:
The single rotating shaft is segmented into two rotating shafts (first rotating shaft and second rotating shaft) that can rotate independently relative to each other. This segmentation allows each shaft to handle specific rotational movements, enabling the upper cover to rotate through a full 360 degrees while maintaining structural manageability through the modular dual-shaft design.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a dual-shaft hinge is used to achieve 360-degree rotation, then the rotational range is improved, but the torque interference between shafts increases
Solution Approach 1:
A torque element is introduced as an intermediary component between the first rotating shaft and the second rotating shaft. This torque element includes positioning protruding portions that engage with corresponding locating holes, serving as a mediator to transmit and regulate torque between the two shafts. The intermediary structure minimizes harmful torque interference while enabling the desired 360-degree rotational movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning protruding portions are designed with specific geometric parameters, including arc lead angles at their top ends and varying lengths (bottom ends longer than top ends). These parameter changes allow the protruding portions to smoothly engage with the locating holes during rotation, dynamically adjusting torque transmission characteristics to minimize interference throughout the rotational range.
3Ease of operation
If positioning protruding portions are added to minimize torque interference, then the rotational smoothness is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning protruding portions are merged with the torque element as an integrated component rather than separate parts. This combining approach allows the positioning features to be formed during the same manufacturing process as the torque element itself, reducing assembly steps and overall manufacturing complexity while still providing the rotational smoothness benefits.
Data Source
AI summary
A dual-shaft hinge and an electronic device are provided. The dual-shaft hinge includes a first rotating shaft, a second rotating shaft, a fixing assembly, a torque element, and a first carrier plate. The fixing assembly has first via, second via, and a first locating hole. The first rotating shaft is inserted in the first via, and the second rotating shaft is inserted in the second via. The torque element has a connection portion, a first torque providing portion and a second torque providing portion extending from two opposite sides of the connection portion, and a first positioning protruding portion and a second positioning protruding portion extending from the other two opposite sides of the connection portion. The first rotating shaft is inserted in a first hole groove, and the second rotating shaft is inserted in a second hole groove. The first positioning protruding portion is inserted in the first locating hole. The first carrier plate has a first through hole, a second through hole, and a second locating hole. The first rotating shaft is inserted in the first through hole, the second rotating shaft is inserted in the second through hole, and the second positioning protruding portion is inserted in the second locating hole.