Flexible Display Hinge With Ribbed Soft Plate And Spring Fixing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional flexible display devices face damage due to excessive folding, as they lack a mechanism to smoothly fold and unfold without causing deformation to the screen.
Innovation Solution
A hinge system comprising a soft plate member with ribs and a link mechanism, combined with a fixing mechanism using a shaft pin and elastic member, allows for controlled rotation angles to maintain smooth curvature during folding and unfolding, preventing damage to the display screen.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If flexible display device is folded without control mechanism, then folding operation is simple, but display screen may be damaged due to excessive folding
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge incorporates a dynamic fixing mechanism with spring elasticity that automatically adjusts and maintains optimal folding angles. The spring-based fixing mechanism dynamically responds to folding forces, preventing excessive folding while allowing smooth operation, thus protecting the display screen without complicating the folding process.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge controls the folding angle parameter through its fixing mechanism, maintaining the angle within a safe range that prevents display damage. By regulating the angular parameter during folding/unfolding, the mechanism ensures smooth curvature is maintained while protecting the flexible display from excessive bending.
2Strength
If hinge uses rigid structure for support, then structural strength is improved, but smooth curvature during folding deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge employs a soft plate member instead of rigid structures, allowing the formation of smooth curves during folding. This flexible component maintains sufficient mechanical strength while enabling the continuous curvature required to protect the flexible display from damage, directly resolving the contradiction between strength and shape smoothness.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge is designed to maintain continuous curvature during folding through its soft plate construction and rib geometry. The curved geometry allows gradual angle changes without sharp bends, preserving display integrity while providing structural support through the distributed rib configuration.
3Shape
If multiple ribs are added to soft plate member, then curvature control is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The soft plate member is divided into multiple ribs that work together to control curvature. Each rib segment contributes to the overall curvature control, distributing the functional requirement across multiple simpler elements rather than requiring a single complex structure, thus achieving better curvature control without excessive complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The ribs serve multiple functions simultaneously: they provide structural support, control curvature distribution, guide folding motion, and work with the fixing mechanism to maintain optimal angles. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, balancing curvature control capability with device 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 system enables safe and smooth folding/unfolding of flexible display devices, preventing deformation and enhancing the reliability of the product by maintaining appropriate tension and minimizing shock during the folding process.
Implementation Method 1
a fixing mechanism generating a fixing force by spring elasticity to control the rotation angle of the first and second links of the link means
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a hinge for a display device. A hinge for a display device according to the present invention, which connects and folds/unfolds first and second plates in a display device, includes: a soft plate member that is bendable while connecting first and second plates; a plurality of ribs formed at regular intervals at both sides of the soft plate member; a link means connecting the ribs and composed of first and second link and individually rotating with the bending of the soft plate member; and a fixing mechanism generating a fixing force by spring elasticity to control the rotation angle of the first and second links of the link means.