Foldable Display Hinge Structure With Dual Rotational Axes

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electronic devices with foldable displays face issues of wrinkle formation and instability during repeated folding due to mismatched rotational axes between the housing and supporting members, leading to potential damage and instability.

Innovation Solution

A hinge structure with a rotary rail and guide rail system, featuring a rotating member with a sliding pin and a supporting member with a sliding opening, allows for distinct rotational axes to stabilize the display folding process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the housing and supporting member share the same rotational axis, then the structure is simple, but the display suffers from wrinkle formation and potential damage during repeated folding

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehinge structureVSAvoiddisplay durability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The hinge structure is divided into two independent rotational systems: the housing rotates about a first rotational axis while the supporting member rotates about a second rotational axis. This segmentation allows each component to have its own optimized rotation path, preventing wrinkle formation on the display while maintaining structural manageability through the separate but coordinated hinge mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Stability of the object's composition

If the rotational axis of the housing is fixed, then the structure is stable, but stress is generated by distance change between housing and supporting member causing display damage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehousing stabilityVSAvoidstress on display
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The hinge structure employs dynamic adjustment through two independent rotational axes. The first rotational axis provides stable housing rotation, while the second rotational axis dynamically adjusts the supporting member's position and orientation. This dynamic system compensates for distance changes between housing and supporting member, eliminating stress concentration on the display during folding operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the rotational axis of the housing is changed or variable, then display damage is reduced, but rotation of the housing becomes unstable during folding

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay damageVSAvoidhousing rotation stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The rotational functionality is segmented into two independent axes: the first rotational axis maintains stable housing rotation, while the second rotational axis on the supporting member provides the necessary angular adjustment to reduce display damage. This segmentation allows stability and damage reduction to be achieved simultaneously through coordinated but independent rotational movements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4318183B1Electronic device comprising hinge structure for folding display
Publication Date: 2025.10.15 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP4318183B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4318183B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP4318183B1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

According to an embodiment, an electronic device includes a first housing, a second housing, a hinge structure rotatably connecting the first housing and the second housing, and a display disposed across the hinge structure, the hinge structure includes a rotary rail, a hinge bracket including a guide rail spaced apart from the rotary rail, a sliding pin, a rotating member coupled to the first housing, a sliding opening, a guide groove, and a supporting member supporting one surface of the display,.