Foldable Display Hinge Assembly for Rigidity Without Added Thickness
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing foldable display devices face challenges in achieving desired rigidity and durability while maintaining a large display size without increasing thickness, and there is a need to prevent reverse folding.
Innovation Solution
A foldable display apparatus with an inner-foldable hinge structure that includes a housing frame, hinge assembly, and display panel, featuring a hinge housing, hinge arms, and an arm cover with recessed guide units to enhance rigidity and durability without thickness increase.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of moving object
If a hinge structure is added to implement folding movement, then the display size can be increased while maintaining portability, but the rigidity and durability of the device deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge assembly is segmented into multiple components including hinge arms, hinge housing, and arm cover that work together to provide both folding functionality and structural strength. The segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while contributing to overall rigidity.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge assembly combines multiple materials with different properties - the hinge arms provide mechanical strength, the hinge housing provides structural support and protection, and the arm cover provides additional rigidity and aesthetic finish. This composite structure resolves the contradiction between flexibility for folding and strength for durability.
2Reliability
If the hinge structure is made more complex to improve durability, then the reliability improves, but the device complexity and assembly difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple functional elements are merged into integrated components. The hinge arms serve both as structural supports and as the folding mechanism. The arm cover integrates both protective and guiding functions. This merging reduces the number of separate parts and simplifies assembly while maintaining high durability.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge assembly components perform multiple functions simultaneously. The hinge housing not only protects internal components but also provides structural support and guides the folding motion. The arm cover both protects the hinge arms and provides guiding surfaces. This multi-functionality reduces overall complexity while enhancing reliability.
3Strength
If thicker components are used to improve rigidity, then the strength improves, but the thickness of the foldable display apparatus increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of increasing thickness in one dimension, the design distributes structural support across multiple dimensions. The hinge arms extend in multiple directions, the housing provides three-dimensional support, and the arm cover adds structural integrity from the opposite side. This dimensional distribution achieves rigidity without increasing overall thickness.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge arms are nested within the hinge housing, which is in turn covered by the arm cover. This nested structure maximizes structural support within the available space, achieving high rigidity without increasing the external dimensions of the device.
Data Source
AI summary
A foldable display apparatus may include: a housing frame including a first frame and a second frame; a hinge assembly coupled to the first frame and the second frame to implement a folding and unfolding movement of the first frame and the second frame; and a display panel disposed on the first frame and the second frame. The hinge assembly may include: a plurality of hinge arms each coupled to one of the first frame and the second frame; a hinge housing disposed below the plurality of hinge arms and accommodating the plurality of hinge arms; and an arm cover disposed above the plurality of hinge arms and fastened with the hinge housing, the arm cover including a plurality of recessed guide units respectively corresponding to the plurality of hinge arms.