Hinge Mechanism for Flush Foldable Terminal Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional foldable portable terminals with a hinge mechanism suffer from a protrusion on one side when closed, compromising their design quality and portability due to the hinge projecting from the side, and they can experience reverse opening issues due to clearance in the hinge mechanism.
Innovation Solution
A hinge mechanism with a link mechanism that allows the two display screens to be in the same plane in the open state without a protrusion in the closed state, incorporating a reverse opening prevention mechanism and a drawing mechanism to ensure proper closure, and utilizing a nested coil spring structure for space efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If a conventional hinge mechanism is used to couple the first housing and second housing, then the terminal can be folded and closed, but the hinge portion projects from one side of the terminal in the closed state, degrading the design quality and portability
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge mechanism is repositioned from a side-protruding configuration to a top-surface-integrated configuration. The first and second housings are coupled at their top surfaces rather than side surfaces, allowing the hinge to be concealed within the terminal's overall shape when closed, eliminating the protruding appearance while maintaining folding functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge mechanism employs an asymmetric link mechanism with four links of different configurations. The links are designed with specific geometric asymmetries that enable the mechanism to achieve a flush closed position while accommodating the necessary rotational movement, allowing the hinge to be hidden within the terminal's轮廓 without requiring symmetric protrusions
2Ease of operation
If a hinge mechanism with clearance is used to allow opening and closing motion, then the terminal can be folded, but the clearance causes reverse opening where the housings open away from each other with opposing end portions closed
Solution Approach 1:
The link mechanism incorporates geometric constraints that prevent reverse opening before it can occur. The specific arrangement of the four links creates mechanical interlocking that actively opposes the reverse opening motion, using the mechanism's own structure to counteract the harmful effect of clearance rather than relying on external stopping mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge mechanism uses a dynamic link mechanism where the relative positions and orientations of the four links change continuously during operation. This dynamic configuration allows the mechanism to adapt its geometry to maintain proper housing alignment during normal opening/closing while automatically preventing reverse opening through the inherent kinematic constraints of the linkages
3Area of moving object
If a large display screen is used to provide tablet terminal functionality, then the display area is increased, but the housing becomes large and less portable
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal employs a dynamic folding configuration that transitions between a compact closed state for portability and an extended open state for large display area. The hinge mechanism enables the terminal to dynamically change its form factor, allowing it to provide tablet-style large screen functionality when needed while maintaining smartphone-style compactness when carried, effectively decoupling the display area from the carried size
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 solution ensures a sleek design without protrusions in the closed state and prevents reverse opening, enhancing the terminal's portability and usability while optimizing internal component layout for space-saving.
Implementation Method 1
a drawing mechanism that generates a drawing force for bringing the opposing end portion of the second housing closer to the opposing end portion of the first housing
Data Source
AI summary
A portable terminal including a first housing including a first display; a second housing including a second display; and a hinge portion that couples the first housing and the second housing so as to be openable and closable with respective opposing end portions of the first housing and the second housing adjacent to each other and with respective surfaces of the first housing and the second housing positioned in the same plane as each other in an open state. The hinge portion is disposed so as to not be visible from a front side of the first display and the second display when the first housing and the second housing are in the open state.