Hinge for Flexible Electronic Device with Teardrop Display Space
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hinges for flexible electronic devices have large assembly tolerances, leading to increased weight, cost, and insufficient space for flexible displays due to numerous component parts and a support plate that restricts display folding.
Innovation Solution
A hinge design featuring a mounting seat with arcuate slots and rotary units that shift between unfolded and folded states, eliminating the need for a support plate by creating a teardrop-shaped space for the display and reducing component count through a torque synchronous mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional hinge mechanism with multiple component parts is used, then the flexible display can be supported during folding, but the assembly tolerance increases due to accumulation of forming tolerances, affecting flatness and straightness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple separate components into a unified hinge structure where the housing, mounting seats, and support functions are combined into a single integrated component. This merging eliminates the accumulation of forming tolerances from multiple parts while maintaining the ability to support the flexible display during folding operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge structure performs multiple functions simultaneously: it supports the flexible display during folding, provides the folding motion mechanism, and ensures flatness and straightness of the device. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components, thereby reducing assembly tolerance accumulation.
2Reliability
If a conventional hinge with numerous component parts is used, then the flexible display can be supported, but the weight and costs of the device increase
Solution Approach 1:
By combining multiple components into a single integrated hinge structure, the total material usage is reduced, directly decreasing the weight of the moving object while maintaining the support capability for the flexible display.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and eliminates unnecessary component parts from the conventional hinge design, retaining only the essential functional elements needed to support the flexible display, thereby reducing overall weight.
3Reliability
If a support plate is added to support the bending portion of the flexible display, then the display can be supported during folding, but the space for receiving the flexible display becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The support function is merged into the housing structure itself rather than being a separate support plate, allowing the support capability to be achieved without occupying additional space that would reduce the volume available for receiving the flexible display.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge mechanism utilizes rotational motion in a different dimensional space, allowing the flexible display to be folded and supported without requiring additional linear space that would conflict with the display reception volume.
4Reliability
If a conventional hinge with numerous component parts is used, then the flexible display can be supported, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple separate components are merged into a single integrated hinge structure, reducing the number of component parts and simplifying the device complexity while maintaining the support capability for the flexible display.
Solution Approach 2:
Unnecessary component parts are extracted and removed from the design, retaining only the essential elements needed to support the flexible display, thereby reducing device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A hinge is connectable with two housing parts to allow opening and closing of the housing parts. The hinge includes a mounting seat and two rotary units. The mounting seat has a central recessed portion. The rotary units are connected with the mounting seat and shiftable between an unfolded state and a folded state. Each rotary units includes a linking member, a rail sliding block, a rotating bracket and a cover plate. During the shifting from the unfolded state to the folded state, the rail sliding block is slid relative to both the linking member and the rotating bracket and is turned relative to the mounting seat. In the folded state, the cover plates are inclined to each other in a direction away from the mounting seat to cooperate with the central recessed portion to form a space for receiving a bending portion of a flexible display.