Flexible Display Hinge Structure to Prevent Creasing and Clamping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hinges for flexible displays face issues with insufficient support, leading to creasing or damage when the distance between supporting plates is too wide, and clamping when folded closed.
Innovation Solution
A hinge design with movable rotating units, supporting plate units, and resilient members that allow for a flexible display to be supported without creasing, featuring a fixing seat, rotating units, and supporting plates that adjust their distance and orientation to accommodate the display, preventing damage during folding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the distance between the two supporting plates is increased, then the flexible display has more space, but the flexible display may not have sufficient support and may have an increased chance of creasing
Solution Approach 1:
The supporting plates are connected to rotating units that can change the distance between them dynamically. When the hinge is in different opening angles, the supporting plates automatically adjust their separation distance to provide appropriate support, preventing both creasing and clamping issues
Solution Approach 2:
The distance parameter between supporting plates is changed based on the hinge opening angle. The rotating units convert angular motion into linear displacement, adjusting the supporting plate separation to optimize both display space and support reliability under different operating conditions
2Reliability
If the distance between the two supporting plates is shortened, then the supporting plates provide better support, but the supporting plates may abut against or clamp onto the flexible display when folded closed, which damages the flexible display
Solution Approach 1:
The supporting plates are dynamically positioned through rotating units that respond to hinge opening angles. When folded closed, the rotating units automatically reduce the distance between supporting plates, preventing clamping damage while maintaining support reliability
3Device complexity
If the supporting plates are fixed in position, then the structure is simple, but the flexible display cannot be adequately supported during folding and unfolding
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge incorporates rotating units with linkage members, rail sliders, and curved rails that enable the supporting plates to dynamically adjust their positions. This dynamic mechanism provides adequate support during folding and unfolding while maintaining reasonable structural complexity
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 hinge provides adequate support to flexible displays, preventing creasing and damage by adjusting the distance and orientation of supporting plates, ensuring a smooth folding motion and maintaining display integrity.
Implementation Method 1
The plurality of resilient members are connected between the main supporting plate and the auxiliary supporting plate
Implementation Method 2
The first curved rail is connected to the main body and slidably engages the respective one of the first slots. The second curved rail is connected to the main body and extends away from the main body. The rail slider is adapted to be connected to a respective one of the housing bodies, and has a slider body, a second slot, and an inclined sliding portion. The second slot is formed in the slider body, has a curved shape, and is slidably engaged with the second curved rail.
Implementation Method 3
The inclined sliding portion is formed on the slider body. The rotating arm is pivotably mounted to the fixing seat, and has an arm body and an inclined guiding portion formed on the arm body. The inclined sliding portion of the rail slider and the inclined guiding portion of the rotating arm slidably engage each other.
Data Source
AI summary
A hinge includes a fixing seat, two rotating units, and two supporting plate units. The two supporting plate units are disposed respectively on the rotating units, and each of the supporting plate units has a main supporting plate having first and second ends respectively proximate to and distal from the fixing seat, an auxiliary supporting plate, and a plurality of resilient members. The rotating units are movable between an opened state, where a distance between the auxiliary supporting plates is smaller than a distance between the main supporting plates, and a closed state, where the supporting plate units face each other, a distance between the main supporting plates decreases from the first ends of the main supporting plates to the second ends of the main supporting plates, and for each supporting plate unit, each of the auxiliary supporting plates is pivoted to an angle relative to the main supporting plate.