Electrostatic Hinge Clutch for Adjustable Angle Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions for removably coupling personal electronic devices, such as magnetic clasps, consume significant surface area and lack adjustability, while existing hinge mechanisms do not provide active control over the angle of separation between planar components.
Innovation Solution
An electrostatic clutch mechanism is used to actively control the angle of separation between two planar components by creating an electrostatic frictional force between conductive surfaces, allowing for adjustable locking and unlocking without the use of magnetics and minimizing contact area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If magnetic clasps are used to couple planar components, then the components can be removably coupled, but significant surface area is consumed and adjustability is lacking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces magnetic coupling mechanisms with an electrostatic clutch system that uses electric fields to generate frictional forces. This substitution eliminates the need for large magnetic surfaces while providing active control capability through voltage regulation, thereby resolving the contradiction between surface area consumption and coupling effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrostatic clutch introduces dynamic control by allowing the friction force to be adjusted in real-time through voltage regulation. The clutch can transition between locked and unlocked states, and the friction level can be modulated, providing adaptability that static magnetic clasps cannot achieve.
2Ease of operation
If existing hinge mechanisms are used, then structural support is provided, but active control over separation angle is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical angle control mechanisms with an electrostatic clutch system that uses electric fields to control friction. This substitution simplifies the overall mechanism while providing precise active control through electrical signals, resolving the contradiction between control capability and mechanism complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrostatic clutch controls the separation angle by changing the friction parameter through voltage regulation. By adjusting the voltage applied to the clutch, the friction force changes, which directly controls the hinge angle, providing simple yet effective active control.
3Adaptability or versatility
If electrostatic clutch is used to actively control separation angle, then adjustable locking is achieved, but voltage control complexity is introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The electrostatic clutch system incorporates angle detection that automatically feeds back to the voltage controller, enabling the system to self-regulate the voltage applied to the clutch based on the current hinge angle. This feedback mechanism simplifies the overall control complexity by making the system self-adjusting rather than requiring external complex control logic.
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 electrostatic clutch effectively locks and unlocks the components at a predetermined angle, providing adjustable and active control over the separation angle, enhancing user flexibility and reducing the size of external contact areas.
Implementation Method 1
creating an electrostatic frictional force between conductive surfaces
Implementation Method 2
electrostatic frictional force between conductive surfaces
Data Source
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AI summary
A hinge mechanism includes an electrostatic clutch for providing active control of a relative angle between two planar components. The hinge mechanism includes two conductive components on opposite sides of a dielectric layer; a relative angle detection mechanism usable to determine a relative angle between the two planar components; and a voltage controller that selectively applies voltage to at least one of the two conductive components when the detected angle between the two planar components satisfies a locking condition, the applied voltage creating an electrostatic force that restricts movement of the two conductive components and fixedly support the two planar components at the detected angle of separation.