Foldable Middle Frame Reinforcement Against Hinge Impact Deformation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional foldable electronic devices with inward-folding screens face issues of local collapse and deformation at the middle frame adjacent to the folding mechanism due to impact forces, necessitating high-strength materials that increase weight and manufacturing costs.
Innovation Solution
A foldable electronic device design incorporating a reinforcement member with higher yield strength and/or micro Vickers hardness than the middle frame, strategically positioned to absorb impact forces, reducing the need for high-strength materials across the entire middle frame.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If high-strength material is used to manufacture the entire middle frame, then impact resistance capability and deformation resistance capability are improved, but weight and manufacturing costs greatly increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using high-strength material only for the reinforcement member at the critical location adjacent to the rotating shaft, while the rest of the middle frame can use lighter material. This localized application of high-strength material resolves the contradiction by providing impact resistance where needed without unnecessarily increasing the weight of the entire middle frame structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the middle frame into two parts: a reinforcement member made of high-strength material at the critical area, and the remaining middle frame structure that can use lighter material. This segmentation allows the system to achieve high impact resistance at the critical location while maintaining overall lightweight characteristics.
2Strength
If high-strength material is used to manufacture the entire middle frame, then impact resistance capability and deformation resistance capability are improved, but manufacturing costs greatly increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using high-strength material only for the reinforcement member at the critical location adjacent to the rotating shaft, while the rest of the middle frame can use lighter, more cost-effective material. This localized application reduces manufacturing costs compared to using high-strength material for the entire middle frame while still providing necessary deformation resistance at the critical area.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the middle frame into a reinforcement member made of high-strength material and the remaining structure that can use cheaper material. This segmentation significantly reduces manufacturing costs by limiting the expensive high-strength material to only the necessary reinforcement component rather than the entire middle frame.
3Weight of moving object
If the middle frame uses lightweight material, then weight and manufacturing costs are reduced, but local collapse and deformation occur due to impact force from the rotating shaft
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by keeping the main middle frame structure lightweight while adding a localized reinforcement member made of high-strength material at the critical area adjacent to the rotating shaft. This allows the majority of the middle frame to remain lightweight and cost-effective while providing reliable resistance to local collapse and deformation at the critical impact area.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the middle frame into a lightweight main structure and a separate reinforcement member made of high-strength material. This segmentation allows the system to achieve both lightweight characteristics for the majority of the structure and reliable impact resistance at the critical area where the reinforcement member is positioned.
Data Source
AI summary
A portion that is of a first middle frame of an electronic device and that is close to a second middle frame is provided with a mounting groove. A first groove end wall and a second groove end wall of the mounting groove are disposed opposite to each other. A first groove side wall of the mounting groove is connected between the first groove end wall and the second groove end wall. A reinforcement member is fastened to the first groove end wall. A first end portion and a second end portion that are disposed opposite to each other are included in a length extension direction of a folding mechanism. A stop block is disposed at the first end portion. When the electronic device is in a folded state, the reinforcement member is located between the first groove side wall and the stop block and abuts against the stop block.