Foldable Display Hinge With Saw-Toothed Gears
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Solution Overview
Problem
Foldable electronic devices with traditional hinge structures face challenges in minimizing bezel size and achieving an appealing external appearance, as the hinge parts are often located on the side surfaces, increasing the bezel area and complicating the external design when dealing with varying display lengths.
Innovation Solution
A foldable display device design featuring a hinge structure with saw-toothed spur gears and guide structures that rotate about parallel axes, allowing the hinge to be positioned under the display, minimizing bezel size and enhancing the external appearance by integrating the hinge housing in a way that it is exposed or hidden seamlessly depending on the device's state.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If hinge parts are disposed on side surfaces of the housing to support the display, then the display can be folded and unfolded, but the bezel area increases and the external appearance becomes less appealing
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge structure is repositioned from the side surface (horizontal dimension) to the bottom surface (vertical dimension) of the housing. This dimensional relocation allows the hinge to be concealed within the housing profile, eliminating its visual presence on the front bezel while preserving the folding function.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge structure is extracted from the visible side surface location and relocated to the bottom surface, effectively removing it from the front-facing view. This extraction eliminates the hinge's contribution to bezel width while maintaining its structural support function.
2Length of moving object
If multiple joints are used to cope with the extended length of the display, then the display can be made longer, but the external appearance becomes difficult to manage
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple hinge joints are merged into a single integrated hinge structure positioned at the bottom of the housing. This unified design consolidates multiple functional elements into one compact unit, maintaining the ability to accommodate extended display lengths while presenting a clean, simplified external appearance.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge structure is nested within the housing profile at the bottom surface, allowing multiple joints and components to be contained within the existing housing geometry. This nesting approach enables extended display functionality without protruding external structures that would complicate the appearance.
3Area of stationary object
If the hinge structure is positioned under the display, then the bezel area is minimized and the external appearance is enhanced, but the hinge structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge structure is segmented into distinct functional components (hinge body, connection arms, rotation mechanisms) that can be independently designed and assembled. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while being integrated into the bottom-positioned configuration, managing overall complexity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
Additional connection components and mounting structures serve as intermediaries between the hinge mechanism and the housing/display assembly. These intermediary elements facilitate the integration of the hinge structure into the bottom position, distributing the structural requirements across multiple simplified interfaces rather than requiring a single complex integration point.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes two housing structures, a hinge structure, and a flexible display, the hinge structure includes a first saw-toothed spur gear, a second saw-toothed spur gear, a third saw-toothed spur gear, a fourth saw-toothed spur gear, a first guide structure fixed to the first housing structure and rotated by the gears, and a second guide structure fixed to the second housing structure and rotated in an opposite direction of the first guide structure, the first guide structure is rotated about a first axis formed from a bottom surface of the flexible display upwards, and the second guide structure is rotated about a second axis that is spaced apart from the first axis and is formed from the bottom surface of the flexible display.