Foldable Hinge Cam Assembly for Thin Devices With Low Wear
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Solution Overview
Problem
As electronic devices with flexible displays become thinner, the elastic force of hinge assemblies decreases, leading to issues such as uneven wear and driving sounds during folding or unfolding operations due to reduced thickness of elastic members and increased friction between components.
Innovation Solution
A hinge assembly design featuring a cam structure and elastic members positioned on the outer side of the hinge bracket, with a bracket structure, rotator structures, arms, pins, and sliding guides, which reduce friction and noise by maintaining a predetermined folding state and minimizing wear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the thickness of the electronic device is reduced, then the overall device thickness decreases, but the diameter of the elastic member must also decrease which causes a decrease in elastic force
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic member is repositioned from an internal location to the outer side of the hinge bracket, utilizing the external dimensional space. This allows the elastic member to maintain its original diameter and elastic force while the device thickness is reduced through other means, effectively resolving the contradiction between device thinness and elastic force maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The cam structure serves as an intermediary mechanism that translates the elastic force from the repositioned elastic member into effective folding/unfolding force. This intermediary arrangement allows the elastic member to be positioned externally while still providing the necessary force through the cam's mechanical advantage.
2Length of moving object
If the elastic member diameter is reduced to accommodate thinner devices, then device thickness decreases, but uneven wear occurs during pin sliding along the penetrating rail
Solution Approach 1:
By relocating the elastic member to the outer side of the hinge bracket, the system maintains adequate elastic member diameter despite reduced device thickness. This dimensional reconfiguration ensures sufficient force for uniform pin-rail contact, preventing uneven wear while achieving the desired thin profile.
3Length of moving object
If the elastic member diameter is reduced, then device thickness decreases, but driving sounds occur due to gaps between components during folding or unfolding operations
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic member is positioned on the outer side of the hinge bracket, allowing it to maintain adequate diameter for generating sufficient elastic force. This external positioning ensures proper engagement between components during folding and unfolding, eliminating gaps that would cause driving sounds while preserving device thinness.
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 design reduces uneven wear and driving sounds while maintaining the folding state, ensuring smooth operation and durability of the hinge assembly in thinner electronic devices.
Implementation Method 1
a pair of elastic members respectively connected to the pair of pins and each configured to press the pin cam toward the arm cam
Data Source
AI summary
An example electronic device may include a display, a first housing; a second housing, and a hinge assembly, wherein the hinge assembly may include a bracket structure, a pair of rotator structures respectively rotatable on a pair of hinge axes, a pair of arms respectively rotatable on a pair of arm axes, and each including an arm cam and a penetrating rail, a pair of pins respectively passing through the penetrating rails, connected to the rotator structure, respectively rotatable on a pair of pin axes, and each including a pin cam interoperating with the arm cam and a sliding guide slidable along the penetrating rail, and a pair of elastic members respectively connected to the pair of pins and each configured to press the pin cam toward the arm cam.