Foldable Display Hinge Structure for Flat Unfolding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Most foldable displays suffer from poor flatness after unfolding, which is an urgent issue that needs to be addressed in the development of electronic devices like smartphones and tablets.
Innovation Solution
A foldable electronic device design featuring a hinge structure with supporting blocks, first hinge blocks, and second hinge blocks that allow for rotational and sliding movement, enabling the foldable display to transition from a folded to an unfolded state with improved flatness by increasing the distance between casings in the horizontal direction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If conventional foldable display designs (outward or inward folded) are used, then the display can be folded, but the flatness after unfolding deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge structure is divided into multiple supporting blocks arranged side by side, with first hinge blocks and second hinge blocks connecting adjacent supporting blocks. This segmentation allows each block to contribute to the overall flatness through coordinated rotational and sliding movements, resolving the contradiction between achieving good flatness and maintaining structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge blocks are designed to rotatably and slidably connect the supporting blocks, enabling dynamic adjustment of the display's geometry during folding and unfolding. This dynamic mechanism allows the display to maintain good flatness in the unfolded state while accommodating the complexity of the hinge structure through controlled motion.
2Shape
If the hinge structure generates horizontal movement to drive flat unfolding, then the flatness improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge structure merges rotational and sliding movements into a unified mechanism where first hinge blocks and second hinge blocks work together to connect supporting blocks. This combination of motion types enables the horizontal movement necessary for flat unfolding while integrating the complexity into a cohesive structure rather than separate components.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge blocks act as intermediary elements between the supporting blocks, mediating the transformation of motion from rotational to sliding to achieve horizontal movement. This intermediary mechanism enables the flat unfolding action while distributing the structural complexity across multiple intermediate components rather than requiring a single complex element.
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 device achieves good flatness in the unfolded state by utilizing a hinge structure that supports the foldable display, ensuring it conforms to a beam-like geometry, thereby maintaining a smooth and flat surface.
Implementation Method 1
the first hinge blocks rotatably and slidably connect the supporting blocks
Implementation Method 2
the first hinge blocks rotatably and slidably connect the supporting blocks
Data Source
AI summary
A foldable electronic device includes a first casing, a second casing, a hinge structure and a foldable display. The hinge structure connects the first casing and the second casing, and includes a plurality of supporting blocks, a plurality of first hinge blocks and a plurality of second hinge blocks. The supporting blocks are arranged side by side between the first casing and the second casing. The first hinge blocks and the second hinge blocks are respectively arranged at two sides of the supporting blocks. One of the first hinge blocks connects two of the supporting blocks adjacent to each other. One of the second hinge blocks connects two of the supporting blocks adjacent to each other. The foldable display includes a first bonding portion secured to the first casing, a second bonding portion secured to the second casing and a foldable portion aligned to the hinge structure.