Foldable Display Hinge Cover Sealing Against Dust Ingress
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Solution Overview
Problem
Foldable display devices face issues with foreign matter entering through the gap between the cover case and the hinge case, leading to potential damage and defects.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating protrusions on the cover case and hinge case, along with dust caps made of rubber or silicone, to reduce the gap and prevent foreign particles from entering when the device is folded, while allowing easy folding operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the gap between the cover case and hinge case is reduced using protrusions and dust caps, then foreign matter prevention is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cover case is divided into multiple components: a main cover body, protrusions extending from the cover, and separate dust caps that fit over the protrusions. This segmentation allows the gap reduction function to be achieved through modular elements that can be independently manufactured and assembled, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
Dust caps serve as intermediary elements between the protrusions and the external environment. These caps actively close the gap between the cover case and hinge case, preventing foreign matter entry without requiring the protrusions themselves to be complex sealing structures. The dust caps simplify the overall design by providing a dedicated, simple component for the sealing function.
2Manufacturing precision
If protrusions and dust caps are added to reduce the gap, then manufacturing precision requirements increase, but the ease of manufacture decreases
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the gap-closing function into separate protrusions and dust caps, each component can be manufactured independently with standard tolerances. The protrusions provide the structural framework while the dust caps provide the sealing function, allowing each to be optimized for its specific manufacturing process without requiring ultra-precise integration between dissimilar components.
Solution Approach 2:
The design allows for parameter adjustments in the dust caps (such as elasticity, size, and material properties) to compensate for variations in protrusion dimensions. This flexibility enables the system to maintain effective gap closure across a range of manufacturing tolerances, reducing the need for extremely tight precision control while easing manufacturing requirements.
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
Effectively prevents foreign matter from entering the device, reducing the risk of damage and maintaining the display's quality and reliability by minimizing the gap between the cover case and hinge case during folding.
Implementation Method 1
The dust caps may be made of a rubber or silicone material
Data Source
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AI summary
A foldable display device is described. The foldable display device comprises: a first support member and a second support member, which are separated from each other, a display module disposed on the first support member and the second support member, a hinge coupling one side of the first support member and one side of the second support member, a hinge cover surrounding the hinge and comprising a dust cap on an upper edge thereof, a first back cover disposed under the first support member and comprising a first protrusion at one end thereof, and a second back cover disposed under the second support member and comprising a second protrusion at one end thereof, the dust cap is in contact with the first protrusion and the second protrusion when the display module is folded.