Foldable Display Hinge Structure for Curvature Control and Gap Elimination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Foldable mobile devices with flexible display panels face issues of damage due to improper curvature formation and contamination from foreign substances entering through gaps between the folded bodies, which complicates the design and reduces device lifespan.
Innovation Solution
A hinge device with sloping plates and a lifting plate that rotate to form a predetermined radius of curvature in the folding unit, ensuring the inner sides of the bodies are in contact and parallel, eliminating gaps to prevent contamination and maintaining the display panel's horizontal state.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the inner sides of the first body and the second body are formed in a tapered shape having a gap gradually increasing from an end portion to the folding unit P to secure a folding space, then a predetermined radius of curvature can be formed in the folding unit of the flexible display panel at the folded position, but the outer shape becomes tapered which complicates the design and creates gaps that allow foreign substances to flow in and contaminate the flexible display panel
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the hinge device into multiple functional components: hinge blades for rotation, sloping plates for creating folding space, and pressing members for maintaining contact. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, achieving the desired curvature formation without requiring the entire device to have a complex tapered shape.
Solution Approach 2:
The sloping plates are designed to dynamically adjust their position based on the folding state. During folding, the sloping plates move to create the necessary space for curvature formation, and during unfolding, they return to their original position to maintain parallel contact between bodies. This dynamic adjustment eliminates the need for a permanently complex tapered outer shape.
2Manufacturing precision
If the inner sides of the first body and the second body are formed in a tapered shape to accommodate the folding space, then the flexible display panel can be folded with proper curvature, but gaps between the bodies allow foreign substances to flow in and contaminate the flexible display panel surface
Solution Approach 1:
The pressing member acts as an intermediary element between the first and second bodies. It applies force to maintain contact between the inner sides of the bodies, effectively closing any gaps that would allow foreign substances to enter. This intermediary mechanism ensures that the folding space is created through the sloping plates rather than through gaps between bodies.
3Manufacturing precision
If the outer sides of the first body and the second body are in a tapered shape with thickness gradually increasing toward the folding unit P, then a folding space can be formed, but the foldable mobile device has a complicated outer shape compared to devices with parallel outer shapes
Solution Approach 1:
The invention resolves the shape conflict by operating in an additional dimension. The sloping plates move perpendicular to the main folding plane, creating folding space through lateral displacement rather than through tapered thickness variation. This allows the outer sides of the bodies to remain parallel while still achieving the necessary folding space through the movement of internal components.
Data Source
AI summary
A hinge device of the present invention comprises: a housing positioned between an end of a first body and an end of a second body, which interwork and move relative to each other; first and second hinge blades fixed to the first and second bodies, respectively, and rotatably supported by the housing, respectively, so as to make rotating movements by a predetermined angle between “an unfolded position” in which the first and second bodies are on the same horizontal line and “a folded position” in which the first and second bodies face and fold onto each other; and first and second sloping plates installed on the first and second hinge blades, respectively, and configured to interwork by pressurization during rotational movements of the first and second hinge blades so as to move between a horizontal position in which same are aligned with horizontal lines of the first and second bodies in the “unfolded position” and a sloping position in which same are disposed to slope from the horizontal lines of the first and second bodies, respectively, such that a folding space is formed between the first and second hinge blades in the “folded position”. According to the present invention, a predetermined radius of curvature is formed on a folding portion of the flexible display panel when the first and second bodies are folded, and the outside and inside shapes of the first and second bodies can be parallel to each other.